1. Which is better: ambroxol or bromhexine?
Both ambroxol and bromhexine are agents that help in thinning mucus for easily coughing it up. Ambroxol is a metabolite or a breakdown product of bromhexine. Hence, the effect of both the drugs against long-term and short-term respiratory diseases are similar. However, bromhexine is preferred more widely for its efficacy.
2. Is bromhexine safe in pregnancy?
Most drugs may pass through the placenta and adversely impact the growing fetus, especially during the first and third semesters. However, bromhexine is a Category A drug. Pregnant women and those around the child-bearing age have taken bromhexine without reporting fetal malformations or direct or indirect side effects. Consult your doctor to get a tailored prescription.
3. Does bromhexine cause drowsiness?
Yes. A common side effect of consuming bromhexine is drowsiness. You may feel sleepy and sluggish for a few hours after taking the drug. So, we advise that you refrain from driving or doing any activity that demands your full concentration - chopping vegetables, operating heavy machinery, working with fire, etc.
4. Can bromhexine cause death?
No. Bromhexine alone does not cause death. However, consuming other mucolytic drugs along with bromhexine may interfere with mucus production. This may cause some serious adverse effects. Inform your doctor if you have a history of abdominal issues like ulcers, liver problems, or kidney problems before taking bromhexine.
5. Can bromhexine cause heart attacks?
No. Bromhexine does not induce heart attacks. However, consult your doctor regarding the drugs you take for hypertension, diabetes, peptic ulcers, and renal issues beforehand. Bromhexine can also interfere with other mucolytic drugs taken for allergies, itchy skin, etc. Get a proper medical consultation to rule out potentially dangerous drug interactions.
6. Can bromhexine cause shivering?
No. However, it can cause excessive sweating. It signals to the brain’s heat-regulating center – the hypothalamus – to reduce the body temperature. This property of bromhexine is beneficial during fever. Apart from its mucus-thinning ability, this is why bromhexine is used along with antibiotics to speed up recovery from influenza.
7. Does bromhexine make you cough more?
Yes. Bromhexine is known to make you cough more. This is just one way that it relieves you of your cold, chest congestion, or other diseases associated with phlegm production. It breaks down and thins mucus and induces further mucous secretion so that you can cough out the stiff mucus.
8. Is bromhexine an antibiotic?
No. Bromhexine is not an antibiotic, but a mucolytic agent that thins and brings mucus out through cough. However, when used along with an antibacterial agent, bromhexine multiplies the efficacy of the antibiotic. Usually, Bromhexine is prescribed along with amoxicillin to speed up the recovery process from influenza and the common cold.
9. How do you take bromhexine?
Doctors will usually prescribe bromhexine in an oral suspension (syrup). You can take it 2–4 times a day. Bromhexine tablets are prescribed thrice a day. While consuming bromhexine or any mucolytic drug, take precautions to drink enough fluids before and after consumption to reduce esophageal irritation and improve absorption.
10. How long does bromhexine stay in your system?
It takes your body around 24 hours to completely excrete bromhexine and its metabolites. However, depending on your body type and medical conditions, bromhexine may stay a little longer or shorter in your system. Consume a lot of fluids while taking bromhexine to enhance metabolism and excretion of the drug.
Speak to our team at Yashoda Hospitals for speedy and expert medical advice and services. Let our experts answer your queries regarding dosage, precautions, and side effects of taking bromhexine.
