• Capsules: Two Carbocisteine 375 mg capsules, three times a day. When your symptoms improve, your doctor may lower your dosage to one Carbocisteine 375 mg capsules four times a day. Adults are usually prescribed capsules.  

• Syrup: Carbocisteine Syrup 15 ml, three times a day. When your symptoms improve, your doctor may lower your dosage to Carbocisteine Syrup 10 ml, three times a day. Syrup may be prescribed to children or adolescents. Paediatric syrups are also available. 

• Liquid: One sachet of Carbocisteine liquid, three times a day. When your symptoms improve, your doctor may lower your dosage to one sachet of Carbocisteine liquid twice a day. The liquid form of Carbocisteine is usually given to children or people who cannot take capsules.   

• Ages two to four years: Carbocisteine Syrup 1.25 ml to 2.5 ml, four times a day. 

• Ages five to eleven years: Carbocisteine Syrup 5 ml, three times a day. 

• Ages twelve to seventeen years: Carbocisteine Syrup 15ml, three times a day. 

As Carbocisteine is a prescription-only medicine, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking the medication. Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the proper directions for taking Carbocisteine. It is also good to read the patient information leaflet given in the pack for use instructions. Here is the typically recommended way to use Carbocisteine – 

1. You can take Carbocisteine capsules, syrup, and liquid with or without food

2. The Carbocisteine Syrup comes with a plastic syringe or measuring spoon to help you measure out the correct dose for children. Please do not use a kitchen spoon. It may not give you the right measure

3. Your dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to the treatment. Do not give your medication to someone else without advice from a doctor. Also, do not increase or reduce your dose without a doctor’s advice

4. Do not take the medication if the expiry date mentioned on the pack is passed. The expiry date refers to the last day of the mentioned month

Carbocisteine is an effective medication for those who have a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. However, it is advisable to discuss your medical history, ongoing treatments and prevailing medical conditions with your doctor before using Carbocisteine. Here are some conditions wherein Carbocisteine should be used with caution –

• Senior citizens should use Carbocisteine only when prescribed by a doctor, and even then, exercise caution and take the exact dose as prescribed.

• People who have a history of gastroduodenal ulcers should be careful and go for regular check-ups when taking Carbocisteine.

• Those who are taking concomitant medications known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Discontinue the medication if gastrointestinal bleeding occurs.

• Pregnant women should not take Carbocisteine unless recommended by a doctor. There is no clinical evidence to prove the safety or adversity of Carbocisteine during pregnancy.

• Breastfeeding women should not take Carbocisteine unless recommended by a doctor. There is no clinical evidence to prove the presence of Carbocisteine in breast milk. The safety or adversity of Carbocisteine during lactation is yet to be determined.

Carbocisteine is an effective medication used to treat adults and children struggling with excessive sputum on the lungs. However, Carbocisteine may not be suitable in some conditions. Discuss your medical history, ongoing treatments, and prevailing medical conditions with your doctor before taking this medication. Here are some cases wherein Carbocisteine is unsuitable –

1. For people who have peptic ulcers

2. For children below the age of twelve, only Carbocisteine paediatric syrup (Brand name: Mucodyne) is recommended. They should not be given Carbocisteine capsules, syrup, or liquid

3. Children below two years of age should not be given Carbocisteine

4. Carbocisteine contains lactose and is not suitable for –

1. Lactose-intolerant people

2. Galactose intolerant people

3. People with the Lapp lactose deficiency 

4. People with glucose-galactose malabsorption problems.

5. Carbocisteine Syrup and paediatric syrup contain sucrose. Therefore, this medication is unsuitable for –

1. People with fructose intolerance

2. People with a glucose-galactose malabsorption problem

3. People with sucrose-isomaltase insufficiency

Just like any other medication, Carbocisteine is also known to cause side effects in some cases. Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. Just because a side effect is listed here does not mean that every person taking this medication will experience that or any other side effect. Here is the list of the side effects of Carbocisteine – 

• Skin rashes

• Allergic skin reaction such as itchiness

• Bleeding in the stomach or intestines. If you notice any blood in your stools or vomit, or if your stools are black and tarry, let your doctor know

• Diarrhoea

• Feeling sick or vomiting

• Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

If you have been prescribed Carbocisteine, take the following precautions when taking the medication –  

1. Take the Carbocisteine capsules or syrup as per the prescribed dose only. Try not to miss any dose and do not take an extra dose

2. Take the medication for as long as advised by your doctor. Complete the course of Carbocisteine even if your symptoms go away, do not stop the medication unless specifically told to do so by the doctor

3. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and move on to the next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one

4. Carbocisteine may also interact with other medicines to make them less effective or vice versa. Inform your doctor about any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines you regularly take before taking Carbocisteine. Some of the medicines known to interact with Carbocisteine are –

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

1. Ibuprofen

2. Naproxen 

3. High dose aspirin

4. Diclofenac

2. Corticosteroids – usually prescribed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD)

3. Blood-thinning medication such as Clopidogrel or Ticagrelor

4. Any herbal medication