Ambroxol
About
Ambroxol belongs to a class of drugs called 'mucolytic agents' (cough/sputum thinner) primarily used to treat acute (short term) and chronic (long term) respiratory diseases associated with excess mucus. Acute respiratory diseases are initially associated with dry, irritating cough, hoarseness in laryngitis (swelling of the voice box) or burning sensation in chest due to bronchitis (swelling of the lining of bronchial tubes). Then, wet mucus forms and continuous coughing out of sputum occurs. In chronic respiratory diseases, both dry irritating cough and wet cough with mucus occur.
Ambroxol contains Ambroxol that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in lungs, windpipe and nose. Ambroxol breakdown the acid mucopolysaccharide fibres that make the mucous (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.
Take Ambroxol as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend how often you take Ambroxol based on your medical condition. Some people may experience nausea, taste change, numbness in mouth, tongue and throat. Most of these side effects of Ambroxol 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 known to be allergic to Ambroxol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Ambroxol. If you have kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcer, asthma or cough from long time, please inform your doctor before taking Ambroxol. In children below 6 years, liquid form is preferred as tablets are contraindicated.
Uses of Ambroxol
Medicinal Benefits
Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent (mucus thinner) that is used to treat acute (short term) and chronic (long term) respiratory diseases associated with excess mucus. Ambroxol helps in making cough less viscous so that it can be coughed out easily in the conditions of acute and recurrent bronchitis (airways infection), laryngitis (voice box infection), and tracheitis (windpipe infection) and chronic diseases like chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thus, helps in thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose to cough out easily and provide relief from symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Ambroxol
- Nausea
- Taste change
- Numbness in mouth, tongue and throat
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Talk to your doctor before taking Ambroxol if you have had a cough for a long time, asthma or suffer from serious asthma attacks, liver or kidney problems, or peptic or duodenal ulcers. There have been reports of severe skin allergic reactions with Ambroxol, so if you develop a skin rash, immediately stop using Ambroxol and contact your doctor immediately.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Ambroxol may have interaction with antibiotics (amoxicillin, cefuroxime, and erythromycin) and a cough suppressant (codeine).
Drug-Food Interaction: Ambroxol interaction with food is unknown. Please consult a doctor to know which foods are to be avoided while taking Ambroxol.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Use with caution in patients with cough for a long time, stomach ulcer, kidney or liver problems and asthma.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionInteraction of alcohol with Ambroxol is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Ambroxol.
Pregnancy
unsafeAmbroxol is a Category C pregnancy drug and is not recommended for pregnant women especially in the first 3 months as it may cause harm to the unborn baby.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Ambroxol as it may be excreted in breast milk and cause adverse effects in the baby.
Driving
safe if prescribedAmbroxol usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Ambroxol with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Ambroxol with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionAmbroxol in tablet is not recommended for children below 6 years of age. Ambroxol in oral solution form is given for children below 6 years in doses prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid dairy products such as milk as it may increase mucus production. Also, avoid processed or refined foods to have relief from cough. Instead replace baked foods, fried foods, white bread, white pasta, French fries, sugary deserts and chips with green leafy vegetables.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dry throat while you have cough.
- Avoid citrus fruits as it may worsen cough. Eat fruits that are rich in water content such as pears, watermelon, peaches and pineapples.
Special Advise
- If you are allergic to some sugars, please inform your doctor as Ambroxol may contain sorbitol.
- You are recommended not to take Ambroxol for more than 10 days without your doctor’s advice.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cough: Acute respiratory diseases are initially associated with dry, irritating cough, hoarseness in laryngitis (swelling of the voice box), or burning sensation in the chest due to bronchitis (swelling of the lining of bronchial tubes). Then, wet mucus forms, and continuous coughing out of sputum occurs. In chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis, both dry irritating cough and wet cough with mucus occur.
FAQs
No, Ambroxol is not recommended for use during pregnancy especially in the first three months as it may harm the developing baby. Therefore, if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Ambroxol.
You are recommended to take Ambroxol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, if the symptoms worsen or persist after 5 days (3 days in children) of using Ambroxol, please consult your doctor.
Yes, Ambroxol may cause severe skin reactions in some people. It is not necessary for everyone taking Ambroxol to have skin reactions. However, if you notice a skin rash including lesions of nose, throat, mouth, genitals or eyes, stop taking Ambroxol and consult a doctor immediately.
Yes, you may take Ambroxol with antibiotics such as erythromycin, amoxicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime as it may increase the concentration of antibiotics in the formed mucus in airways. However, you are recommended to consult a doctor before using Ambroxol with antibiotics or any other medicines.
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Ambroxol without consulting your doctor as it may worsen cough or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Ambroxol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it and if you experience any difficulty while taking Ambroxol, please consult your doctor.
