Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology

Abstract

The Rational Use of Mucolytic Drugs in Children: Worsening of the Cough as Adverse Drug Reaction after Carbocysteine in Children

Ioan Magyar, Mihai Botea, Alina Maghiar, Carmen Pantis, Cristian Sava and Barbu Cuparencu

Carbocysteine and acetylcysteine are drugs with mucolytic and expectorant properties widely used in respiratory disease in adults but also in children. Acetylcysteine is also used as donor of SH groups in the drug overdose such as in the acetaminophen poisoning. Chronic cough is a vexing and common problem for children, their care givers, and health care providers. Effective treatment may be difficult, especially if the underlying cause of the cough cannot be determined. On the other hand, asthma, recurrent wheezing, bronchiolitis and both upper and lower respiratory tract disease are very common seen in paediatric emergency department. We have tried to found any relationship between use of drugs which are containing carbocysteine and some symptoms such as persistent cough, recurrent wheezing or bronchospasm. We are considering these symptoms as adverse drug reactions of carbocysteine. Our work was focused on 191 children divided in two groups: group A (who received carbocysteine) and group B (without carbocysteine). Our work shows that in all cases of worsening of cough, this effect was credited on the use of carbocysteine. On the other hand, worsening of cough (as frequency and duration) often causes the appearance of reflex vomiting. In case of the late condition the number of hospital admission is increased. Overall we believe that the use of carbocysteine in children exceeds the therapeutic benefit.