Carbocisteine is decongestant or Expectorant

[enm1sg]

I have Bronchiectasis so coughing lots of time so thinking of talking to GP for prescription for Carbocisteine for ease of coughing but not sure if it is is decongestant or Expectorant

I definitely will use it if it is decongestant as it will choke my lungs further so please advise

[peege]

Hello. It's neither. It's a mucylotic, it breaks up the mucus in your lungs, making it less sticky & therefore easier to expel. Hope that helps, someone will be along to correct me if I'm wrong!

[grayann in reply to peege]

I have just been on them for 3 weeks and they are peege describes.

[enm1sg]

I have spoken to my GP and she said as it is decongestant so she will not give prescription until hospital consultants recommend so confuse and question again

Carbocisteine is it a decongestant or Expectorant?

[mrsmummy in reply to enm1sg]

peege has it spot on. See her answer to you above.

[fastball]

It makes it less sticky and breaks it up , so it is easy to move.

Chris

[claque]

Peege got it exactly right

[mrsmummy]

Expectorants are in a class of drugs called Mucokinetics. An expectorant increases bronchial secretions and mucolytics help loosen thick bronchial secretions.

Mucokinetics are a class of drugs which aid in the clearance of mucus from the airways, lungs, bronchi, and trachea. Such drugs can be further categorized by their mechanism of action:

*mucolytic agents

*expectorants

*surfactants

--wetting agents (hypoviscosity agents)

--abhesives

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucok...

[Carnival567]

I have been on carbocisteine for five years, and now I really only cough badly when I have an exacerbation. I take 2 three times a day. The respiratory nurse tried to reduce the dose but I found that my chest tightened up again, so went back to original consultant's prescription. It suits me well.

[Maureenclayton]

Hi my consultant prescribed that for me to help with the mucus build up, couldn't do without it, hope it helps you too. X

[Hidden]

I agree with peege , it's a mucolytic which works as she describes, by thinning mucus and lessening viscosity. Here is the Summary of Product Characteristics (usually intended for health professionals and therefore more detailed than the Patient Information Leaflet included with the drug) medicines.org.uk/emc/produc... You'll see section 4.1 states it is a mucolytic.

I'm not medically qualified but if it had to be described as an expectorant or a decongestant, I'd say it's more of an expectorant. These help expel mucus from the respiratory tract, whereas all decongestants do is reduce swelling, which helps you breathe better and inhibits mucus production.

Actually carbocisteine didn't work for me so I nebulise 7% hypertonic saline instead. It's worth a try though so either ask for your hospital appointment to be brought forward or simply write to the consultant and ask him/her.