Carbocisteine

Registered South African indications:

• Cough

Contraindications 

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• Active peptic ulceration
• Children younger than 2 years

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment
• Hepatic impairment
• Elderly
• History of gastroduodenal ulcers
• Fructose intolerance
• Lactose intolerance
• Sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap, syr

Non-infective productive cough 

• Oral (cap, syr): Initial 750mg, 8hrly; Reduce to 375mg, 6hrly once adequate response achieved

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: syr

Non-infective productive cough 

Younger than 2 years

• Not established for use

Between 2-5 years

• Oral (syr): 62.5-125mg, 6hrly

Between 5-12 years

• Oral (syr): 250mg, 8hrly

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Pregnancy

• Caution
• Although tests in mammalian species have revealed no teratogenic effects, Carbocisteine is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy

Breastfeeding

• Caution
• It is unknown whether carbocisteine and/or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. A risk to the newborn or infant cannot be excluded. A decision must be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from carbocisteine therapy taking into account the benefit of breast feeding for the child and the benefit of therapy for the woman

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Elderly

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Not yet classified (NC)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Vomiting

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Fixed drug eruption
• Skin rash
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Erythema multiforme

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Anaphylactic reactions

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

None routine

Carbocisteine has been shown to affect the nature and amount of mucous glycoprotein secreted in the respiratory tract. This reduces the viscosity of secretions facilitating clearance.

Capsule 375mg

• Lessmusec (Brunel) originator
• Flemex 20-Plus (Johnson & Johnson) originator
• Mucosolv (Cipla Medpro)
• Mucospect (Pharmacare)

Syrup (per 5ml) 125mg

• Mucospect Paed Syrup (Pharmacare)

Syrup (per 5ml) 250mg

• Adco-Mucolinct (Adcock)
• Betaphlem (Be-Tabs)
• Bronchette (Pharmacare)
• Co-Flem (Pharmacare)
• Dis-chem Mucolytic (Pharmacare)
• Flemgo (Alliance)
• Flemlite (Pharmacare)
• Flemex (Johnson & Johnson) originator
• Flutex Mucus Cough (Johnson & Johnson)
• Flusin Mucous Cough (Pharmacare)
• Mucopan (Adcock)
• Mucospect (Pharmacare)