Carbocisteine thins sticky mucus so it is easier to cough up. It is used mainly in COPD and bronchiectasis, where clearing sputum reduces flare-ups — not for an ordinary cough or cold.
Usually a higher dose to start, reduced once there is improvement. Take it with or after food.
Give it four to six weeks before deciding whether it helps. If there is no benefit by then, it should be stopped rather than continued indefinitely.
Keep your fluid intake up — hydration does much of the same job.
Nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea and rash are the more common effects. Taking it with food helps.
Stop and seek advice for vomiting blood, black stools or severe stomach pain — rarely it can be associated with gastrointestinal bleeding.
It is avoided in active peptic ulcer disease. Tell your prescriber if you have a history of stomach ulcers.
Carbocisteine works alongside your inhalers, not instead of them, and alongside chest clearance techniques if a physiotherapist has taught you any.
If you are producing more sputum than usual, it has changed colour, or you are more breathless, that is a possible flare-up — follow your action plan or contact your GP rather than simply taking more carbocisteine.
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