carbocisteine at a glance
Medicine class
Mucolytic: a medicine that reduces the thickness and stickiness of phlegm.
Main role
Helps clear excessive, viscous mucus in respiratory tract disorders, including chronic obstructive airways disease.
Food
May be taken with or without food.
Available forms
UK products include hard capsules, bottled oral liquids and individual liquid sachets; age limits and excipients vary.
What is carbocisteine used for?
Selected UK products are licensed as adjunctive mucolytic treatment for respiratory tract disorders characterised by excessive, viscous mucus.
Chronic obstructive airways disease, including COPD, when thick phlegm is difficult to clear.
Other respiratory tract disorders involving excessive, sticky mucus.
How does carbocisteine work?
Carbocisteine changes the composition and physical properties of airway mucus, reducing its abnormal thickness and stickiness. Airway cilia and an effective cough can then move the loosened phlegm.
carbocisteine preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 375 mg, 750 mg
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg/5 mL, 750 mg/10 mL
How to take carbocisteine
Take carbocisteine by mouth as directed on the dispensing label. It can be taken with or without food.
Swallow capsules whole.
Measure bottled liquid with the supplied oral syringe, spoon or cup; do not use a kitchen teaspoon.
Check the product leaflet because some liquids and sachets have specific age restrictions and excipients.
carbocisteine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick
- Stomach discomfort
Get urgent medical advice
- Gastrointestinal bleeding, which may cause blood in vomit or black, tarry stools
- Serious allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty
- Severe blistering skin reactions
carbocisteine in pregnancy
Carbocisteine is not generally recommended during the first trimester because information about fetal effects is very limited. A prescriber should review whether it is necessary and whether an alternative with more pregnancy experience is suitable.
carbocisteine while breastfeeding
NHS guidance says carbocisteine is usually compatible with breastfeeding when the infant is healthy, although evidence is limited. Product SmPCs are more cautious and do not recommend use because milk-transfer and infant-effect data are unavailable. Discuss the decision with the prescriber and seek advice if the infant feeds poorly or develops vomiting, diarrhoea or a rash.
carbocisteine interactions
No specific pharmacokinetic drug interactions are established, but clinically important combinations and bleeding risks should be reviewed.
Antitussives or cough suppressants
Suppressing the cough reflex may hinder clearance of mucus loosened by carbocisteine; selected liquid-product SmPCs do not recommend the combination.
Anticholinergic or atropinic medicines that dry secretions
These may oppose mucus clearance and are not recommended with selected carbocisteine liquids.
Common questions about carbocisteine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is carbocisteine an antibiotic?
No. It is a mucolytic that changes mucus consistency; it does not treat bacterial infection.
Can I take a cough suppressant with carbocisteine?
Do not combine them without advice. Suppressing the cough reflex may make it harder to clear mucus loosened by carbocisteine.
Can I take carbocisteine if I have a stomach ulcer?
Carbocisteine is contraindicated with an active peptic ulcer. Discuss a previous ulcer or other gastrointestinal bleeding risk with the prescriber.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.