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Carbocisteine

Mucodyne

Granskad av Sid DajaniSenast uppdaterad av Michael Stewart, MRPharmSSenast uppdaterad 27 Jan 2023

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Carbocisteine helps to make it easier to cough up sputum.

It works best when it is taken regularly.

There are different liquid medicines available for adults and children. Be aware of the new 'double-strength' medicine for children, especially if you are used to giving the old 'low-strength' children's medicine. Measure the dose carefully using the oral syringe provided.

Side-effects with carbocisteine occur only rarely.

Överblick

  • Carbocisteine is a mucolytic medicine that helps clear sputum in respiratory diseases.

  • It makes phlegm less thick, making it easier to cough up.

  • It is often used for conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

  • Take the medicine regularly as prescribed by your doctor.

  • Rarely, it can cause stomach bleeding or skin reactions; stop taking it and tell your doctor if these occur.

Denna sammanfattning har automatiskt genererats från artikelns innehåll för att hjälpa läsarna att snabbt förstå huvudpunkterna.

About carbocisteine

Typ av medicin

A mucolytic

Används för

To help clear sputum in respiratory disease associated with a productive cough

Även kallad

Carbocysteine (in US); Mucodyne®

Tillgänglig som

Capsules, oral liquid medicine for adults, oral liquid medicine for children (aged 2-12 years), oral liquid medicine for adults in sachets

Mucolytic medicines, such as carbocisteine, can be helpful for people with a long-term respiratory disease such as kroniskt obstruktiv lungsjukdom (KOL).

Carbocisteine works by making phlegm (mucus) less thick and sticky, and therefore easier to cough up. It may also have a knock-on effect of making it harder for germs (bacteria) to cause chest infections.

It needs to be taken regularly, and is most likely to help if you have moderate or severe COPD and have frequent or bad flare-ups.

Before taking carbocisteine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you (or your child) start taking carbocisteine it is important that your doctor knows:

  • If you have ever had a stomach ulcer.

  • Om du är gravid eller ammar.

  • Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

  • Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

How to take carbocisteine

  • Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The manufacturer's leaflet will give you more information about carbocisteine and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

  • Take carbocisteine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you. As a guide:

    • The usual dose for an adult is: two 375 mg capsules three times a day, reduced when symptoms improve to one 375 mg capsule four times daily.

    • If you have been prescribed the oral liquid medicine, the usual dose for adults is 15 ml (750 mg) three times a day, reduced when symptoms improve to 10 ml (500 mg) three times a day.

    • If you have been prescribed the oral liquid medicine in sachets, the usual dose is one sachet three times a day, reduced when symptoms improve to one sachet twice a day.

  • Be aware of the new 'double-strength' medicine for children, especially if you are used to giving the old 'low-strength' children's medicine.

    • The usual dose for a child aged 5-12 years is: 5 ml (250 mg) three times daily.

    • The usual dose for a child aged 2-5 years is: 1.25-2.5 ml (62.5-125 mg) four times daily.

    • Measure your child's dose carefully, using the oral syringe provided.

  • Carbocisteine works best when it is taken regularly. Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take your doses regularly. It is not important whether you take carbocisteine before or after food.

  • If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the forgotten dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

  • Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress, as your doctor will want to check to make sure that carbocisteine is working well for you.

  • People with respiratory disease who exercise regularly tend to have improved breathing. Taking a daily walk is a good start if you are not used to exercise. Try to increase the level of your activity over time if you are able.

  • If you are overweight it can make breathlessness worse. Ask a dietician to give you advice on healthy eating and how to lose weight.

Can carbocisteine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. Side-effects of carbocisteine occur only rarely. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Rare carbocisteine side-effects - these affect fewer than 1 in 1,000 people


Vad kan jag göra om jag upplever detta?

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract (blood in vomit or black stools)

Stop taking carbocisteine and let your doctor know straightaway

Skin rash or blistering of the skin, swelling of the face or lips

Stop taking carbocisteine and let your doctor know straightaway

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store carbocisteine

  • Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

  • Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Om du ska genomgå en operation eller någon tandbehandling, informera den som utför behandlingen om vilka mediciner du tar.

Om du köper några mediciner, kontrollera med en apotekare att de är säkra att ta tillsammans med dina andra mediciner.

Ta aldrig mer än den föreskrivna dosen. Om du misstänker att du eller någon annan kan ha tagit en överdos av denna medicin, gå till akutmottagningen på ditt lokala sjukhus. Ta med behållaren, även om den är tom.

Denna medicin är för dig. Ge den aldrig till andra människor även om deras tillstånd verkar vara detsamma som ditt.

Behåll inte föråldrade eller oönskade mediciner. Ta dem till ditt lokala apotek som kommer att ta hand om dem åt dig.

Om du har några frågor om denna medicin, fråga din apotekare.

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Vanliga frågor

Can I buy carbocisteine over the counter?

The article states that carbocisteine is "Available as Capsules, oral liquid medicine for adults, oral liquid medicine for children (aged 2-12 years), oral liquid medicine for adults in sachets". It also mentions that it needs to be prescribed by a doctor, indicating it is not an over-the-counter medication.

Is carbocisteine good for a dry cough?

Carbocisteine is specifically used to help clear sputum in respiratory diseases associated with a productive cough (a cough that produces phlegm or mucus). It works by making phlegm less thick and sticky, making it easier to cough up. This means it is for wet, chesty coughs rather than dry coughs.

Does carbocisteine make you sleep more?

The article includes a section on the side-effects of carbocisteine but does not list increased sleepiness as one of them. The listed rare side-effects are bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, skin rash, or blistering of the skin, and swelling of the face or lips.

Can carbocisteine cause breathlessness?

The article does not mention breathlessness as a side-effect of carbocisteine. The primary goal of the medication is to help clear sputum in respiratory diseases, which can improve breathing, though the article does not explicitly state this effect.

Dessa frågor och svar har genererats från informationen i denna artikel.

Vidare läsning och referenser

Om författarenVisa fullständig biografi

Författarbild

Helen Allen, MPharm

Apotekare, Medicinsk Författare

MPharm

Helen Allen kvalificerade sig som apotekare 1979 och tillbringade 3 år som författare av läkemedelsinformationsbroschyrer för EMIS.

Om recensenten

Författarbild

Sid Dajani

Sultan Dajani tog examen vid London School of Pharmacy 1994 och blev den yngsta valda medlemmen i Royal Pharmaceutical Society-rådet sedan dess grundande 1842.

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Informationen på denna sida är skriven och granskad av kvalificerade kliniker.

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