Hello, has anyone used Carbocisteine Capsules to help with coughing and mucus problems with PSP? I searched in Health Unlocked and could see it used with Lung conditions and Heart problems but I don’t recall it being used on this site.
Any comments on their use? Thank you
Hi, Carbocisteine is used for people with PSP, my wife is on maximum dose of the Carbocisteine Solution via her feeding tube after two bouts of Pneumonia. It seems to work very well for her. If you are prescribed it bear in mind it can take a few weeks for it to become fully effective.
Thank you very much for replying and for the information, much appreciated.
Hi Rose1sunflower!
We have not experience with Carbocisteine.
These are our experiences about coughing and mucus problems:
• Persistent cough. Use the syrup recommended by the physician. To avoid in the diet: coffee, carbonated beverages as pop or soda (or eliminate the gas by agitation before giving it to the patient) as well as chocolate, avoiding also orange, lemon or grapefruit juice, helps.
In acute attacks of cough taking some yogurt or honey can help.
We switched to a pine and propolis syrup (ProtectSapin) from the health food store that seemed to help a bit.”
The “easterncedar” chat contributor indicates that: “The medicine in most cough syrups conflicts with the anti anxiety medication”.
• Phlegm and choking: The first thing is to remain calm during episodes of truly shocking coughs. The second is that a physician rules out an infection in the respiratory tract. Get a pulse oximeter to control. (Fever is an indication usually either pneumonia or urinay tract infection (UTI) in PSP patients).
• It is not a big problem that the patient swallows his phlegm. For phlegm to be fluid, it is important to drink liquids. Ten minutes steam inhalation from hot water in a bowl with a few drops of some floral essence (avoid mint plants and eucalyptus) that is pleasant to the patient, a small spoonful of marine salt and some pieces of lemon, with a towel covering head and bowl helps. (One to three times a day (*).
• Inhalation of the mentioned water steam together with abundant oral hydration are usually sufficient to improve the fluidity of phlegm.
• Bazooka111 provides this experience regarding phlegm generation: "Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate inhalation solution twice per day.
• We have been doing these breathing treatments for several months, and the phlegm has pretty much disappeared." I think interesting to ask the doctor.
• A steam atomizer to keep the air in the room moist helped too. (40% - 52% moist advisable.)
• Medications like "Mucosan" (Ambroxol hydrochloride) or “Fluimicil Forte-600” (Acetilcisteine) can help in some cases. Ask physician.
(*) We have observed that a steam inhalation session immediately before dinner can reduce appetite. Giving her dinner "before" the "steam inhalation" the results were better.
• In case of choking, raise both arms at shoulder height, breathe only through the nose intensely if posible. If not, inhale air intensely but not very fast through the mouth. Retain air a couple of seconds and then force the cough.
• Also here, to avoid in the diet drinks that can be irritating helps: coffee, carbonated beverages as pop or soda (or eliminate the gas by agitation before giving it to the patient), chocolate, Orange, lemon or grapefruit juice, etc..
• Easterncedar suggest: “We had an electric suction device for a time, supplied by home nursing agency. It helped. Also atropine eyedrops under the tongue worked to relieve excess phlegm.”
• Atomic 55: “I would recommend Hockney or Scolpadeine/Scopoderm patches. They work to reduce the saliva build up. As soon as I started them in patient he stopped choking on saliva completely. Patches last 3 days”.
Note.- It has been described that: pineapple juice breaks down the protein very well and fluidifies the mucus (phlegms). It will have to be tested if the patient tolerates pineapple juice without coughing or choking. (Red1990 indicates that: the pineapple juice enzyme complex is available as a supplement called Bromelain. For people taking anticoagulants, bromelain and melatonin have the same risks of gastrointestinal bleeding as aspirin).
To reduce choking are some foods to avoid: like grapes, rice, couscous, lentils, peas etc anything small was problematic as were spicy foods. Foods that crumble easily, cookies, crackers, stringy foods, sticky foods, etc.
• In stubborn cases some caregivers have mentioned the rental of suction equipment which seems to have helped effectively when the phlegm is very thick and sticky. The vacuum cleaner is called: DeVilbiss Vacuaide (see different types on the Internet). The caregiver “binnyrox” suggest: “Apart from the DeVilbiss suction machine - our respiratory therapist advised choosing a softer catheter - it will be less traumatic while still providing high suctioning efficiency. I use Sz 14 and it generally does the job with thick phlegm. If you aren’t very experienced (I wasn’t ) the RT also recommend placing an airway guide to steer the catheter in. That was a good tip”
• The physiotherapists have exercises reinforcing trunk muscles to improve the cough response to choking. Engage a good speech/swallow therapist to learn swallowing techniques.
• Avoid dairy products, especially before bedtime, this seems to prevent the increase in phlegm viscosity.
• Raising around 15º a 35º (9” to 12”) the head of the bed also helps.
Hoping to be useful.
Hug and luck.
Luis
Wow, thank you for all that information! Very helpful, so much we can do straight away.
Really appreciate the time and effort in collating all this information, many thanks
Hi Rose1sunflower yes my husband takes that medication. He used to take 2 thee times daily now it’s twice daily. Same thing coughing and mucus. Does it help I think so but my husband has had partial lung removal for cancer and also has COPD. But worth a try everybody is different to its affect. Good luck 💜💜
Thank you, much appreciate your taking the time to reply.
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