skip to main content

Mucolytic Therapy for Sputum — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyRespiratory SymptomsMucolytic Therapy for SputumSCE Palliative Medicine

A 72-year-old woman with advanced lung cancer and a chronic productive cough asks about mucolytic therapy. She produces thick, tenacious sputum that is difficult to clear. What is the most appropriate mucolytic?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Carbocisteine 750 mg three times daily

Carbocisteine may be trialled for troublesome tenacious sputum when secretion clearance is the goal and swallowing is safe. Benefit should be reviewed and treatment stopped if ineffective. In the dying phase, added medicine burden, fluid intake, cough strength and whether reducing or drying secretions better matches the goal all matter.

Reference: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/carbocisteine/