Acegem-AC Tablet belongs to the class of drugs called ‘mucolytic agents’ (cough/sputum thinner) primarily used to prevent and treat symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing (whistling sound while breathing). COPD is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes).

Acegem-AC Tablet is a combination of two drugs, namely: Acebrophylline (mucolytic and bronchodilator) and Acetylcysteine (mucolytic agent/sputum thinner). Acebrophylline belongs to the class of bronchodilators with additional mucolytic properties and works by relaxing muscles and widening the airways of the lungs. Acetylcysteine belongs to the class of mucolytic agents (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose. Acegem-AC Tablet breakdown the acid mucopolysaccharide fibers that make the mucus (sputum) thinner and less dense/viscous removing sputum efficiently by coughing. However, the viscosity of sputum remains low for as long as treatment is maintained. Together, they help to cough out easily and make breathing easier by opening airways.

Take Acegem-AC Tablet as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend how often you take Acegem-AC Tablet based on your medical condition. Some people may experience diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, runny nose, dizziness, heartburn, stomach pain, skin rash, drowsiness, and cool and moist skin. Most of these side effects of Acegem-AC Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

If you are allergic to Acegem-AC Tablet or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Acegem-AC Tablet is not recommended for children below 14 years of age. Drink plenty of fluids to thin mucus and lubricate your throat while taking Acegem-AC Tablet. Acegem-AC Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before taking Acegem-AC Tablet. Severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a serious and rare disorder of skin and mucus membranes) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (skin blistering or skin peeling) have been rarely reported in some patients. However, if you notice any skin rash worsening with mucosal lesions or blisters, stop taking Acegem-AC Tablet and contact your doctor immediately. Do not take Acegem-AC Tablet if you have a heart rhythm disorder that causes fast heartbeats. Avoid taking Acegem-AC Tablet if you have low blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, hemodynamic instability (unstable blood pressure), had a heart attack, or kidney or liver diseases. If you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), irregular heartbeats, viral infections, heart failure, asthma, high blood pressure, fits, gastric or duodenal ulcers, heart diseases, or kidney or liver insufficiency, inform your doctor before taking Acegem-AC Tablet.

Acegem-AC Tablet is a combination of two drugs, namely: Acebrophylline and Acetylcysteine. Acebrophylline belongs to the class of bronchodilators with additional mucolytic properties and works by relaxing muscles and widening the airways of the lungs. Acetylcysteine is a mucolytic agent (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose. Acegem-AC Tablet breakdown the acid mucopolysaccharide fibers that make the mucus (sputum) thinner and less dense/viscous removing sputum efficiently by coughing. However, the viscosity of sputum remains low for as long as treatment is maintained. Together, they help to cough out easily and make breathing easier by opening airways.

• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Runny nose
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Heartburn
• Skin rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Cool and moist skin

If you are allergic to Acegem-AC Tablet or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Acegem-AC Tablet is not recommended for children below 14 years of age. Regular monitoring of potassium levels is recommended while taking Acegem-AC Tablet as it may cause low potassium levels in the blood. Acegem-AC Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before taking Acegem-AC Tablet. Severe skin reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a serious and rare disorder of skin and mucus membranes) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (skin blistering or skin peeling) have been rarely reported in some patients. However, if you notice any skin rash worsening with mucosal lesions or blisters, stop taking Acegem-AC Tablet and contact your doctor immediately. Do not take Acegem-AC Tablet if you have heart rhythm disorder that causes fast heartbeats. Avoid taking Acegem-AC Tablet if you have low blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, hemodynamic instability (unstable blood pressure), had a heart attack, or kidney or liver diseases. If you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), irregular heartbeats, viral infections, heart failure, asthma, high blood pressure, fits, gastric or duodenal ulcers, heart diseases, or kidney or liver insufficiency, inform your doctor before taking Acegem-AC Tablet.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Acegem-AC Tablet may interact with water pills (furosemide), medicines used to treat gout (allopurinol), antacid (cimetidine), antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, tetracycline, gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin), drugs used to lower high blood pressure (diltiazem, verapamil), heart-related medicines (isoprenaline), anthelmintic (thiabendazole),  corticosteroids (prednisone), oral contraceptives (ethinylestradiol), medicines used to treat chest pain (glyceryl trinitrate) and cough suppressants (dextromethorphan, codeine).

Drug-Food Interaction: If you are allergic to histamine, avoid histamine-rich foods such as tomatoes, wine, and processed foods as it may cause histamine intolerance leading to symptoms such as flushing (redness of the skin), migraine headaches, skin rash, itching, and rhinitis (runny and stuffy nose). Also, avoid intake of alcohol with Acegem-AC Tablet as it may increase drowsiness. Also, avoid or limit the intake of caffeine with Acegem-AC Tablet as it may cause side effects.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Avoid taking Acegem-AC Tablet if you have low blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, hemodynamic instability (unstable blood pressure), had a heart attack, or kidney or liver diseases. If you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), irregular heartbeats, viral infections, heart failure, asthma, high blood pressure, fits, gastric or duodenal ulcers, heart diseases, or kidney or liver insufficiency, inform your doctor before taking Acegem-AC Tablet.

• FUROSEMIDE
• ALLOPURINOL
• CIMETIDINE
• CIPROFLOXACIN
• ERYTHROMYCIN
• AMOXICILLIN
• DOXYCYCLINE
• TETRACYCLINE
• GENTAMICIN
• AMIKACIN
• NEOMYCIN
• DILTIAZEM
• VERAPAMIL
• ISOPRENALINE
• THIABENDAZOLE
• PREDNISONE
• ETHINYLESTRADIOL
• GLYCERYL TRINITRATE
• DEXTROMETHORPHAN
• CODEINE

• Eat foods rich in potassium such as bananas, asparagus, oranges, potatoes, avocados, dark leafy greens and beetroots as potassium is important for lung function and a potassium deficiency may cause breathing problems.
• Drink plenty of fluids every day to thin mucus which makes it easier to cough out.
• Maintain a diet that includes complex carbohydrates such as lentils, beans, barley, oats, quinoa, bran, peas and potatoes with skin.
• Limit or avoid the intake of caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee, soda, and energy drinks like red bull.
• Eat protein-rich foods such as meat, fish (particularly salmon, sardines and mackerel), eggs and poultry.
• Exercise regularly to strengthen your breathing muscles and boost your immune system. Learning breathing exercises will help you move more air in and out of your lungs.
• Quit smoking as it may reduce the effectiveness of the Acegem-AC Tablet and irritate the lungs worsening breathing problem.

• Regular blood tests are recommended while taking Acegem-AC Tablet to monitor the levels of Acegem-AC Tablet and potassium in the blood.
• Acegem-AC Tablet may affect the test results of ketones in urine and salicylate (like aspirin) in the blood. Therefore, inform your doctor that you are taking Acegem-AC Tablet before undergoing any laboratory tests.
• Acegem-AC Tablet does not relieve sudden asthma symptoms, so it is advised to carry a rescue inhaler always to treat sudden asthma symptoms.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): It is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes). The major cause of COPD is smoking tobacco. Also, long-term exposure to fumes and chemicals may lead to COPD. The symptoms include chronic cough, shortness of breath or wheezing (whistle sound while breathing).