For pathologies of the respiratory tract, a symptom of which is a cough, doctors often prescribe Bromhexine. Although it is more convenient for children to use such a drug in syrup or in the form of a solution, Bromhexine is also produced in tablets. From what age is their use permissible, in what dosage do they give Bromhexine tablets to children, and what other medicines can replace it?
Manufacturers and release form
The tablet form of Bromhexine is available:
- Latvian manufacturer Grindeks. Such Bromhexine is intended for children, therefore it is presented in a dosage of 4 mg in one tablet. One pack of this medicine contains 50 tablets.
- Russian manufacturers Dalkhimpharm, Biosynthesis, Pharmstandard-lexredstva, Obnovlenie, Atoll, Yodillia-farm, Medisorb, Uralbiopharm. All of these companies produce Bromhexine tablets, each containing 8 mg of the active compound. One pack can contain from 10 to 50 tablets.
- Domestic manufacturer Akrikhin. The range of drugs of such a company includes both tablets with 8 mg of bromhexine and a drug for children (tablets containing 4 mg of the active ingredient). One pack of such Bromhexine can contain from 10 to 100 tablets.
- Berlin Chemie from Germany. This manufacturer offers Bromhexine in the form of yellow-greenish dragees, each containing 8 mg of active compound.
Composition
Bromhexine hydrochloride acts as a compound providing a therapeutic effect to Bromhexine tablets. Additional components of the drug are lactose, starch, wax, sucrose, silicon dioxide and other compounds, which should be specified in the annotation to the selected medication.
Operating principle
Bromhexine is classified as a drug with a mucolytic effect, since its main component liquefies mucoprotein and mucopolysaccharide fibers in sputum.
As a result of this action of bromhexine, the viscosity of the sputum decreases, and its volume increases. This causes the expectorant effect of the drug, thanks to which the medication helps to get rid of cough.
Also, bromhexine is noted for the ability to improve the formation of a surfactant.
Indications
Instructions for the use of Bromhexine tablets recommend giving such a medicine for diseases of the respiratory tract, if the patient's bronchial secretion is excessively viscous and clears his throat with great difficulty. The medicine is used for bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, asthma, tuberculosis. Also Bromhexine is prescribed for cystic fibrosis.
At what age is it allowed to take
Brogmexin tablets intended for children are not recommended for use earlier than 3 years of age.
If it is required to give the drug to a child under 3 years old, the treatment uses a liquid form of Bromhexine (solution / syrup), which is approved for use under the supervision of a pediatrician from birth. Tablets in which the content of the active ingredient is 8 mg are not prescribed for children under 6 years of age.
Contraindications
Tableted Bromhexine should not be used in children with hypersensitivity to any component of the drug. Also, such a drug is contraindicated in ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage. Special care from the pediatrician is also required by the appointment of Bromhexine to children with kidney disease or hepatic disease, as well as bronchial asthma.
Side effects
The child's body can "respond" to the use of Bromhexine:
- Dyspepsia.
- Dizziness.
- Skin rash.
- An increase in the activity of liver enzymes.
- Headache.
- Increased sweating.
- Bronchospasm.
If such symptoms occur during the treatment period, it is recommended to cancel the drug.
Instructions for use
Bromhexine tablets should be taken three times a day. You can drink the medicine both before and after meals. The duration of treatment is determined for each child individually, but the time limit is 4-28 days.
A single dose of the drug depends on the age of the little patient:
- Children 3-5 years old are given 1 children's tablet containing 4 mg of bromhexine.
- Over the age of 6 years, a single dose of the drug will be either 2 children's tablets or 1 tablet with 8 mg of the active compound.
If necessary, the dosage can be increased by a doctor to 16 mg per dose.
Instructions for Bromgensin from Berlin-Chemie:
Overdose
If you exceed the dose of Bromhexine, this will lead to nausea and other negative symptoms from the digestive tract. If an overdose is found within one to two hours after taking an excess of pills, it is recommended to provoke vomiting, and then give the child a lot of liquid.
Interaction with other drugs
Bromhexine is successfully combined with antibiotics, bronchodilators and many other medicines used for diseases of the respiratory system. It is not recommended only to combine this drug with antitussives, because inhibition of the cough reflex with simultaneous dilution of sputum can provoke secretion stagnation and deterioration of the patient's condition.
Terms of sale
Medicines containing bromhexine do not require a prescription upon purchase. The cost of tablets with such an active ingredient differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, the price of 50 tablets for children from the Akrihin company is 50-60 rubles, and 20 Bromhexin tablets of 8 mg each from a domestic manufacturer can be purchased for 20-45 rubles.
Storage conditions and shelf life
Keep Bromhexine tablets at home in a dry place out of sunlight. It is important that the tablets cannot be reached by a small child. The storage temperature should not be higher than +25 degrees. The shelf life differs from company to company and can be as long as 2 or 3 years, and 5 years or more.
Reviews
In most cases, parents who have used Bromhexine tablets in their child confirm that the medicine is effective in relieving coughs, making it more productive. Children tolerate such a medication mostly well, and digestive disorders and an allergic reaction to Bromhexine tablets are rare.
Analogs
It is possible to replace Bromhexine in tablets in childhood with drugs with the same active compound, represented by syrups or solutions. In addition, instead of Bromhexine, you can treat the child with ambroxol preparations, for example, Ambrobene, Flavamed or AmbroGEXAL tablets.
Sometimes your doctor prescribes combination medications that include bromhexine, such as Ascoril tablets. Also, when coughing in children, herbal syrups containing extracts of plantain, primrose, ivy and other plants are very popular.
