Cough, which is a protective reflex response of the respiratory system, occurs with many infectious diseases (laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.). As a rule, at the beginning of the disease there is a dry paroxysmal cough, which soon turns into a wet, with hardly detachable sputum. In this case, it is advisable to take medications that help the body to withdraw phlegm - mucus, which contains pathogenic microorganisms. Tablets from cough bromhexine were widely used, we'll talk about the specifics of their use in this article.
Bromhexine - composition and indications for admission
Bromhexine is a drug whose main active ingredient is bromhexine hydrochloride. As auxiliary components in the tablet form of the drug are often sugar, potato starch, calcium stearic acid and some other substances. It should be noted that the tablet dosage form is convenient in use and provides high accuracy of dosing.
Bromhexine is prescribed for such diseases:
- tracheobronchitis;
- obstructive bronchitis ;
- emphysema of the lungs;
- bronchial asthma;
- pneumonia;
- pneumoconiosis;
- pulmonary tuberculosis, etc.
Also, this drug can be used to sanitize the airways in the pre- and postoperative period, to prevent the accumulation of mucus after a chest injury.
Medicinal action of bromhexine
Bromhexine exerts a mucolytic and expectorant action. The active substance is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and dispersed in the tissues of the body. Penetrating the respiratory tract, it changes the structure of the sputum, contributing to its liquefaction and a slight increase in volume. Thanks to this, mucus is more effective and is quickly eliminated from the body.
In addition, it is believed that bromhexine stimulates the production of pulmonary surfactant - a substance lining the pulmonary alveoli and performing protective functions. The isolation of this substance can be disrupted due to the disease, and it is extremely necessary for the normal functioning of the lungs.
How to take bromhexine in tablets?
The active substance in one bromhexine tablet can be contained in an amount of 4 or 8 mg. This should be taken into account when observing the dosage of bromhexine in tablets.
The drug is taken orally, washed down with water, regardless of the intake of food in this dosage:
- adults - 16 mg (2 tablets of 8 mg) 3 - 4 times a day;
- children from 3 to 4 years - 2 mg (half tablet 4 mg) three times a day;
- children from 5 to 12 years - 4 mg three times a day.
Therapeutic effect is manifested on the 2nd - 5th day of treatment. The course of treatment is from 4 to 28 days.
Safety measures and recommendations for the application of bromhexine:
- During treatment, you need to take more fluid, which increases the expectorant effect of the drug.
- Bromhexine can be prescribed concomitantly with other drugs for the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases, including antibiotics.
- The drug can not be prescribed together with the use of drugs that suppress the cough center (for example, codeine), as this will make it more difficult for sputum to escape.
- Bromhexine is incompatible with alkaline solutions.
- Because bromhexine is able to strengthen bronchospasm, it is not recommended to prescribe in an acute period of bronchial asthma.
- With gastric ulcer, bromhexine should be taken under the supervision of a doctor.
- Patients with renal insufficiency are recommended smaller doses or an increase in the interval between doses of the drug.
- Contraindications to the intake of bromhexine are: the first trimester of pregnancy, the period of breastfeeding, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.