Doxofylline+ambroxol
About
Doxofylline+ambroxol is a respiratory combination medication primarily used to treat cough associated with respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma is a breathing problem in which airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, leading to difficulty breathing. COPD is a group of lung diseases with emphysema (shortness of breath) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes). Cough occurs as a reflex action in the throat when mucus or any other foreign irritant is in it.
The Doxofylline+ambroxol consists of two medicines: Doxofylline (antibiotic) and Ambroxol (dilutes viscous cough). Doxofylline comes into the category of bronchodilators that relax the muscles of the airways and can widen up and breathe easily. On the other hand, Ambroxol is an 'expectorant' (promotes the secretion of sputum/cough) and a 'mucolytic agent' (makes sputum less viscous) to make breathing easier in asthma and COPD patients who have difficulty in breathing.
Take Doxofylline+ambroxol preferably with food to avoid stomach upset and swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break it. Your doctor will recommend how often you take Doxofylline+ambroxol based on your medical condition. Some people may experience nausea, taste change, stomach pain, photosensitivity, and numbness in the mouth, tongue, and throat. Most of these side effects of Doxofylline+ambroxol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Before using Doxofylline+ambroxol tell your doctor if you ever had an allergy to Doxofylline+ambroxol have kidney problems, liver problems, swollen food pipe (oesophagitis), lupus disease (an autoimmune disease), muscle disease (myasthenia gravis). Please do not drink alcohol with Doxofylline+ambroxol as it may increase unpleasant side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. Doxofylline+ambroxol is pregnancy category D (high risk) medicines, so its use in pregnant and nursing mothers is not recommended. Use of Doxofylline+ambroxol during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and childhood to the age of 8 years) may cause permanent staining of teeth (yellow-grey-brown). Its use should be avoided by pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children below 8 years of age. Do not consume alcohol as it may cause excessive drowsiness when taken along with Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Uses of Doxofylline+ambroxol
Medicinal Benefits
Doxofylline+ambroxol is used to treat and prevent respiratory disorders like asthma attacks and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Doxofylline+ambroxol is a combination of two medicines: Doxofylline and Ambroxol. Doxofylline (also known as Doxophylline) belongs to the class of bronchodilators. It works by relaxing muscles and widening the airways of the lungs. It minimizes the lung's airflow obstruction, relieving chest tightness, wheezing, and cough to make breathing easier. While Ambroxol works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose. Doxofylline+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.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Doxofylline+ambroxol
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Taste change
- Stomach pain
- Photosensitivity
- Palpitations
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Numbness in the mouth, tongue, and throat
- Dryness of mouth or throat
- Taste changes
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if you have any allergic reactions to medicines. Please inform your doctor if you have any history of heart, liver, and kidney diseases. Also, tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), high blood pressure, and diabetes before taking Doxofylline+ambroxol. Doxofylline+ambroxol causes hypokalaemia (low potassium levels in the blood), therefore should be used with caution in patients with bronchospasm. Special precautions should be taken in patients with hyperthyroidism and epilepsy. Doxofylline+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly. Let your doctor know if you plan to become pregnant or are already pregnant and a lactating mother. If you unexpectedly go into early labour or premature labour (before 9 months) or threatened abortion, do not use Doxofylline+ambroxol and consult a doctor.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Doxofylline+ambroxol may interact with indigestion remedies (antacids), supplements that contain aluminium, bismuth, calcium, magnesium or zinc, stomach ulcer medicines that contain bismuth, iron supplements, other antibiotics (rifampicin), acne medicines that contain vitamin A, such as isotretinoin, a blood thinner called warfarin, medicines for epilepsy, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine, and ciclosporin, a medicine to damp down your immune system.
Drug-Food Interactions: Limit alcohol intake since it may cause a rise in blood pressure leading to heart diseases. Avoid fatty foods and control your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Doxofylline+ambroxol is contraindicated in patients with heart, liver, kidney, and lung diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders like seizures (fits) and depression, phenylketonuria (congenital disability caused by the build-up of an amino acid called phenylalanine in the body), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), high blood pressure, hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood), stomach ulcers, and viral infections.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid drinking alcohol while taking Doxofylline+ambroxol as it can worsen your condition, causing sleep disturbances (sleep apnoea).
Pregnancy
cautionThere is limited data on how Doxofylline+ambroxol affects pregnancy. Please consult your doctor if you are planning to conceive or are already pregnant before starting Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Doxofylline+ambroxol affects breastfeeding. However, Doxofylline is contraindicated in breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor if you have concerns.
Driving
cautionDo not drive or operate machinery if you experience drowsiness, increased/uneven heart rate, and shakiness while using Doxofylline+ambroxol. This may affect your ability to drive. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Liver
cautionDoxofylline+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases or pre-existing liver problems. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Kidney
cautionDoxofylline+ambroxol should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Let your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Children
cautionDoxofylline+ambroxol is not recommended for use for children less than 6 years of age. Your doctor will decide the dose depending on the condition of the child's disease and age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take Doxofylline+ambroxol as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals. Do not use other over-the-counter medications, herbal or vitamin supplements without informing your pharmacist or doctor when you take Doxofylline+ambroxol.
- Know your triggers like allergens, such as pollen, dust, and food items that make your asthma severe.
- Quit smoking and avoid passive smoking. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of the medicine.
- Eat a healthy diet and 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.
- Drink warm fluids while you take Doxofylline+ambroxol to help loosen congestion and lubricate the throat.
Special Advise
- It is advised to inform your doctor beforehand if you are using Doxofylline+ambroxol and are advised to undergo any blood examinations since Doxofylline+ambroxol may cause eosinophilia (increased white blood cell count).
- It is advised to consult a Psychiatrist if you notice any mood changes like suicidal thoughts, aggressive behaviour, anxiety, depression, abnormal dreams, and hallucinations while using Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Asthma: It is a breathing problem in which airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, leading to difficulty breathing. Due to this, a whistling sound is produced during normal breathing. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): It is a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe. The most common conditions that makeup COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The main cause of COPD is tobacco chewing or smoking for a longer duration, which exposes the lungs to chemical irritants resulting in COPD.
FAQs
It is advised to never use cough suppressant medicine like Codeine with Doxofylline+ambroxol as it can suppress mucus expectoration unless prescribed by a doctor.
It is advised to tell your doctor if you are using contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, as Doxofylline+ambroxol may make contraceptives less effective.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Doxofylline+ambroxol should not be taken with any medication used for seizures or fits, as it might worsen your condition.
It is essential to let your doctor know if you have any history of heart, liver, kidney, and lung diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders like seizures (fits) and depression, phenylketonuria (birth defect caused by the build-up of an amino acid called phenylalanine in the body), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), high blood pressure, hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood), stomach ulcers, and viral infections before taking Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Doxofylline+ambroxol is a pregnancy D drug restricted in pregnant women as it can pass through the placenta barrier and affect the unborn baby. Therefore it is best to consult with your doctor before taking Doxofylline+ambroxol.
Do not stop taking Doxofylline+ambroxol even if you feel better, as it may worsen your condition. For the best advice, consult your doctor and do as recommended.
Doxofylline+ambroxol can cause a rise in blood glucose levels. Hence monitor your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes and inform your doctor so that the dose can be adjusted accordingly.
