MUCOLYTICS: Drugs that thin thick sputum.

Pharmacy
, ,
1

MUCOLYTICS are drugs that reduce the thickness (viscosity) of mucus, making thick, sticky, sputum easier to cough out.

MOA:

  • Break disulphide bonds in mucoproteins.
  • Decrease elasticity and viscosity of mucus.
  • Improve mucociliary clearance.

Common Examples:

  • Acetylcysteine
  • Bromhexine
  • Ambroxol
  • Carbocisteine

USES:

  • Wet cough with thick sputum.
  • Chronic bronchitis.
  • COPD
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis

SIDE EFFECTS:

  • Nausea
  • vomiting
  • Gastric irritation
  • Rare:bronchospasm (especially inhaled acetylcysteine)

IMPORTANT POINTS:

  • Used only in productive(wet) cough.
  • Should be taken with adequate fluids.
  • It is often combined with expectorants or Bronchodilators.
  • It cannot be used in dry cough.

“How do Mucolytics differ from expectorants in treating wet cough?”

MBH/AB

2 Likes
2

Expectorants mainly involved in increase fluid secretion in respiratory tract to reduce mucus viscosity so it is easier to cough up and clear from lungs. unlike mucolytics, chemically break down mucus proteins.

So expectorants suitable for acute wet coughs needs simple loosening, and consider mucolytics if phlegm is thick and sticky despite good hydration.

1 Like
3

Mucolytics don’t suppress cough they make it productive, helping the lungs clear what they couldn’t on their own.

1 Like
4

Mucolytics break down the chemical structure of thick mucus to thin it, while expectorants work by increasing airway moisture and secretions, making mucus less viscous and easier to cough up.

1 Like
5

Thanks for summarising it so well. As a dentist, I tend to lose touch with certain drugs over time, so it’s always good to revise once in a while.

1 Like