I have recently been diagnosed with bronchiectasis by c.t. Scan in may 2022 . I have a history of drug intolerances . I tolerated carbocysteine well when started in April 2022 and it certainly reduced my mucus .but towards end of august it was clear it was causing lots of problems culminating in very swollen tongue and mouth.
my g.p. Has said those are the drugs and basically that’s it can’t get hold of the specialist who diagnosed me .
Any suggestions for other medication
I have had bronch since I was three and am now 72. I have never been able to tolerate carbocysteine and nacsys doen't work for me. I nebulise salbutamol followed by saline once or twice each day. Then I use breathing exercises to loosen and cough up the mucus. I also have an aerosure device which vibrates as I breathe in and out, loosening everything when it is stickier than usual. Lots of people use drugs to loosen the mucus but I prefer to have more control by doing it myself.
thanks got the flutter device and when I said should I use a nebuliser as I’d bought one to see if it would help my long Covid symptoms . I was treated with horror that I’d dare be pro active enough to buy such a thing
inhaled saline is part of the guidelines for bronch. The salbutamol opens the airways so that the saline can do its work. I only use isotonic saline which works fine for me. Some people use hypertonic saline which is stronger and you have to try it at the hospital to check that your airways don't spasm. Whoever is treating you knows nothing about bronch. And yes we DO have to be very pro active.Do you have a bronch specialist? GPs and general respiratory consultants don't know enough about it. Look on the website of your nearest big teaching hospital for a bronch expert. Take the name to your GP and insist on a referral. Don't take no for an answer
hi you could try a salt pipe and crystals alongside a clearance device like a flutter or acapella
Hi honeysuckle78 and welcome to the site. Have you been referred to a respiratory nurse at the hospital, they show you how to do breathing exercises to bring up the mucus and can provide you with an acapella flutter device. Ask for the consultants name who diagnosed you and phone their secretary asking if you can have an appointment with the nurse or her phone number so you can make an apointment yourself. I am sure the nurse can recommend things that you can try. Good luck x
yes I’ve gut the flutter device I use it but since stopping carbocysteine feel I’m drowning … I’ve got a very complicated case of long Covid too their words . And there is a physio specialist but the drug made all the difference..
Perhaps there is another drug you can use, I would ask just in case there is. In the meantime you could try the old fashioned method of hot water in a bowl with vicks and a towel over your head, this will help you breathe easier and help to losen the mucus x
How long have your had Covid? I also have long Covid since catching it in March 2020.
The breathing exercises together with Carbocisteine really do help. I had similar symptoms but they passed after 3/4 months. Stick with the Carbocisteine if that’s what your consultant recommends or you could end up in a loop of repeated infections and pneumonia. My local chemist was a wealth of information and suggested I asked the doctor for colecalofferol which is a high dose Vitimin D which boosted my immune system it seemed to help my body stop working against the Carbocisteine but that might just be my interpretation as the intention was just to boost my immune system. Speak to the specialist respiratory consultant they will help you.
u need a Pulmonary Dr who specializes in Broncheictasis and. Cystic Fibrosis. IF there is a teaching school near try there. I use saline in nebulzier twice a day and an AFFLO ocillating vest twice a day to looosen it but then i take a shower after, most people dont do this but it works for me but can be exhausting if twice a day. Move around as much as u can, that helps get it up and out. walk if u can.
thanks everyone for the advice what’s the special vest that some use
The vest is a vibrating device worn as a method of airway clearance, but it’s primarily used in the US. I suspect because insurers make a lot of money from them as opposed to the pep and opep physio devices (flutter, aerobika etc.) which only costs about £50 each once a year. With the exception of patients with neurodegenerative or neuromuscular conditions who need to perform airway clearance, the vest is not routinely available on the NHS in the UK due to lack of evidence that it works, and because we do have evidence that for some respiratory patient groups, it actually increases bacterial exacerbations. You can purchase one privately, but certainly the current medical guidance in the UK is that it should be used as an add on to traditional airway clearance, not as a primary method. The last time I checked, they cost around £7000 to buy from Hill-Rom (main and most established manufacturer) but they also used to run a rent and try before you buy scheme.
thanks for that I did look up everything that could help when diagnosed and saw these online . Didn’t know the negative aspects
Bronchiectasis and Working 
COPD and Bronchiectasis
What should I do? Day 5 of covid. Was OK bu last night started producing a lot of mucous. Suffer from bronchiectasis/pseudomonas. 
sudden Bronchiectasis exacerbation.
Mild Bronchiectasis airway clearance 
