Bromhexine

Bromhexine is a mucolytic agent used in the treatment of respiratory disorders associated with viscid or excessive mucus.

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Function

Bromhexine supports the body's own natural mechanisms for clearing mucus from the respiratory tract.

It is secretolytic: that is, it increases the production of serous mucus in the respiratory tract and makes the phlegm thinner and less sticky. This contributes to a secretomotoric effect: it helps the cilia - tiny hairs that line the respiratory tract - to transport the phlegm out of the lungs. For this reasons it is often added to some antitussive (cough) syrups.

Sometimes it is replaced by its metabolite ambroxol, as in Mucosolvan or Mucoangin.

Brand names

• Bisolvon Forte
• Hoesttabletten Bromhexine HCl
• Paxirasol
• Barkacin