Terbutaline+bromhexine
About
Terbutaline+bromhexine belongs to the class of medications called 'Expectorants' primarily used to treat cough associated with asthma, bronchitis (inflamed airways), and other lung's airways (bronchopulmonary) problems. Coughing (dry or productive) is a body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus, or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. There are two types of coughs, namely dry cough and chesty cough. A dry cough is tickly and doesn't produce any vicious or thick mucus, while a chesty cough (wet cough) means mucous or sputum is produced to help clear your airways.
Terbutaline+bromhexine is a combination of two drugs, namely: Terbutaline (bronchodilator) and Bromhexine (mucolytic agent). Terbutaline belongs to the class of bronchodilators that dilates (expands) and relaxes the air passages in the lungs, thereby making breathing easier, especially in people with airways problems or respiratory obstructive disorders. On the other hand, Bromhexine belongs to the class of mucolytic agents (mucus/cough/phlegm thinner) that works by thinning and loosening mucus in the lungs, windpipe, and nose, resulting in easy coughing out.
Take Terbutaline+bromhexine as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend you how often you take Terbutaline+bromhexine based on your medical condition. Some people may experience nausea, chest pain, vomiting, drowsiness, headache, dizziness, skin rash, tremor, nervousness, diarrhoea, and fast heartbeats. Most of these side effects of Terbutaline+bromhexine 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 Terbutaline+bromhexine or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Terbutaline+bromhexine. If you are suffering from fits or have a history of fits, please inform your doctor before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine as it may increase the risk of recurrent fits. Terbutaline+bromhexine is not recommended for children below 6 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. If you have diabetes, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine. If you experience constipation, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, increased urination or thirst, muscle weakness, or irregular heartbeats, contact your doctor as it may be due to low potassium levels in the blood. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine to loosen mucus. If you have diabetes, fits, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, or heart problems, please inform your doctor before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Uses of Terbutaline+bromhexine
Medicinal Benefits
Terbutaline+bromhexine is a combination of two drugs, namely: Terbutaline and Bromhexine used to treat cough in people with asthma, COPD and other obstructive respiratory diseases. Terbutaline belongs to the class of bronchodilators that relaxes muscles and widens the airways, thereby, making breathing easier. Bromhexine belongs to the class of mucolytic agents (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in lungs, windpipe and nose, making it easier to cough out easily. Terbutaline+bromhexine is non-sedative in nature and does not induce sleep like codeine or other sedative cough syrups. Hence, it does not impact the daily activities.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Terbutaline+bromhexine
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Skin rash
- Tremor
- Nervousness
- Diarrhoea
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Terbutaline+bromhexine. If you are suffering from fits (epilepsy/seizures) or have a history of fits, please inform your doctor before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine as it may increase the risk of recurrent fits. Terbutaline+bromhexine is not recommended for children below 6 years of age and body weight less than 25 kg, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. If you have diabetes, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine. If you experience constipation, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, increased urination or thirst, muscle weakness or irregular heartbeats, contact your doctor as it may be due to low potassium levels in the blood. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine to loosen mucus. If you have diabetes, fits, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid or heart problems, please inform your doctor before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Terbutaline+bromhexine may have interaction with medicines used to lower high blood pressure (propranolol), water pills/diuretics (furosemide), anti-allergic drugs (promethazine), uterine stimulant (oxytocin), bronchodilators (formoterol, dyphylline), anti-sickness drug (ondansetron).
Drug-Food Interaction: Terbutaline+bromhexine may interact with caffeine.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Use with caution in patients with diabetes, epilepsy (fits), high blood pressure, overactive thyroid or heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionInteraction of alcohol with Terbutaline+bromhexine is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Pregnancy
cautionThe safety of Terbutaline+bromhexine in pregnant women is unknown. Therefore, it is given to pregnant women only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is unknown whether Terbutaline+bromhexine is excreted in human milk. Terbutaline+bromhexine is given to breastfeeding mothers only if the doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Driving
cautionTerbutaline+bromhexine may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Therefore, drive only if you are alert after taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Liver
cautionTake Terbutaline+bromhexine with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Terbutaline+bromhexine with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionTerbutaline+bromhexine should be used with caution in children and only if prescribed by a doctor. However, it should not be given to the children less than 6 years of age and body weight less than 25 kg.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid dairy products such as milk as it may increase mucus production.
- Avoid processed or refined foods to have relief from cough, instead replace it with baked foods, fried foods, white bread, white pasta, french fries, sugary desserts and chips with green leafy vegetables.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dry throat while you have a cough and loosen mucus.
- Avoid citrus fruits as it may worsen the cough.
- Eat fruits rich in water content such as pears, watermelon, peaches and pineapples.
Special Advise
- Regularly monitor blood sugar levels, and serum potassium level is required while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
- ECG (electrocardiogram) of the heart is recommended, and heartbeat should be closely monitored.
- Terbutaline+bromhexine should not be given to the children less than 6 years of age and weighing less than 25 kg.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cough: Coughing is a body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. Coughs may be dry or productive. A productive cough (wet cough) brings up sputum (phlegm, mucus and other matter) from the lungs. Cough is commonly caused as a response to allergy or viral infection but coughing up mucus is possibly an indication of infection in the respiratory tract. If you are coughing thick, solid white mucus, it indicates you may have a bacterial infection in the airways. If the mucus is clear or light-coloured, it indicates you may have allergies or minor infection in the respiratory tract, and yellow or green mucus indicates a respiratory infection.
FAQs
Terbutaline+bromhexine contains Terbutaline and Bromhexine. Terbutaline belongs to the class of bronchodilators that relaxes muscles and widens the airways making breathing easier. Bromhexine belongs to the class of mucolytic agents (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in lungs, windpipe and nose, which helps to expel cough out easily.
Terbutaline+bromhexine should be used with caution in hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid) patients as it may worsen the condition. Inform your doctor if have hyperthyroidism before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine so that the dose may be adjusted appropriately. However, regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is recommended while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Yes, Terbutaline+bromhexine may cause drowsiness or dizziness. It is not necessary for everyone taking Terbutaline+bromhexine to experience this side effect. However, avoid driving if you feel drowsy or dizzy after taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
No, you are not recommended to take propranolol or other beta-blockers used to lower raised blood pressure with Terbutaline+bromhexine as it may reduce the effectiveness of both the medicines. Also, propranolol may cause narrowing of airways sometimes, which may trigger severe asthmatic attacks or worsen breathing problems. However, you are recommended to consult a doctor before using other medicines with Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Terbutaline+bromhexine should be used with caution in diabetic patients if prescribed by a doctor. However, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine as it may increase blood sugar levels.
You are recommended to take Terbutaline+bromhexine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, if the symptoms persist or worsen with rash, fever or persistent headache after 1 week of using Terbutaline+bromhexine, please consult your doctor.
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Terbutaline+bromhexine without consulting your doctor as it may worsen cough or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Terbutaline+bromhexine for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Terbutaline+bromhexine, please consult your doctor.
Terbutaline+bromhexine contains terbutaline which may decrease the level of potassium in your body, leading to hypokalemia. So, if you have a low potassium level, let your doctor about this before taking Terbutaline+bromhexine.
Do not use Terbutaline+bromhexine if you are allergic to terbutaline, bromhexine or any beta 2 agonists like salbutamol (albuterol), terbutaline, levalbuterol, pirbuterol, salmeterol, formoterol, indacaterol, olodaterol, and vilanterol used to treat bronchial asthma and COPD. Terbutaline+bromhexine is not recommended to be given in the heart condition known as cardiomyopathy (heart failure due to inflammation of heart muscles). Terbutaline+bromhexine contains Bromhexine which should not be given to the children less than 6 years of age and children less than 25 kg.
