Ambroxol 30mg tablets
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Ambroxol is a secretolytic agent used in the treatment of respiratory diseases associated with viscid or excessive mucus.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Ambroxol
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1 branded products available
Therapeutically similar medicines
Similarity is based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and on a factual NHS dm+d therapeutic-grouping code prefix. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.
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SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary. ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing all 30 studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 8 · Randomised trials: 5 · 2020–2025
Showing all 30 studies, sorted by most relevant.
D. A. Abelleyra Lastoria, S. Grewal, Derralynn A. Hughes
EJHaem, 2024
Gaucher disease (GD) is a heterogeneous condition requiring tailored treatment approaches. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise and evaluate current evidence pertaining to the use of Ambroxol for the treatment of GD. Published and unpublished literature databases, conference proceedings and the reference lists of included studies were searched until 23 November 2023. A narrative synthesis was performed. Database search and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Twenty-one studies (182 patients) were included. The evidence was low in quality. Variable responses to Ambroxol were observed. Response rates were 36% and 55% in two studies reporting on type 1 GD. One study found a 22% response rate in type 2 GD, whereas another study found 29% of patients with type 3 GD reported neurological improvements. No severe adverse events were reported in the literature, with mild and reversible side effects reported. Varying response rates are to be expected (29%-100%) when treating neurological manifestations. Varying degrees of symptomatic improvement for the treatment of GD were noted in the literature. Multidisciplinary team input and clinical judgement are advised to provide personalized treatment of this complex and multi-faceted condition.
Abstract licence: CC BY
B. den Hollander, Hoang Lan Le, E. L. Swart, et al.
Molecular genetics and metabolism, 2024
- Ambroxol
- Gaucher Disease
- Glucosylceramidase
Fabiana Colucci, M. Avenali, Rosita De Micco, et al.
BMJ Neurology Open, 2023
Background: -related PD (GBA-PD) patients have higher risk of dementia and reduced survival than non-carriers. Preclinical studies and one open-label trial in humans demonstrated that the chaperone ambroxol (ABX) increases GCase levels and modulates α-synuclein levels in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods and analysis: In this multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial, we randomise patients with GBA-PD in a 1:1 ratio to either oral ABX 1.2 g/day or placebo. The duration of treatment is 52 weeks. Each participant is assessed at baseline and weeks 12, 26, 38, 52 and 78. Changes in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and the frequency of mild cognitive impairment and dementia between baseline and weeks 52 are the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcome measures include changes in validated scales/questionnaires assessing motor and non-motor symptoms. Neuroimaging features and CSF neurodegeneration markers are used as surrogate markers of disease progression. GCase activity, ABX and α-synuclein levels are also analysed in blood and CSF. A repeated-measures analysis of variance will be used for elaborating results. The primary analysis will be by intention to treat. Ethics and dissemination: The study and protocols have been approved by the ethics committee of centres. The study is conducted according to good clinical practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. The trial findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. Trial registration numbers: NCT05287503, EudraCT 2021-004565-13.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC
S. Mullin, Laura Smith, Katherine Lee, et al.
JAMA Neurology, 2020
- Mutation
- Ambroxol
- Glucosylceramidase
Importance: Mutations of the glucocerebrosidase gene, GBA1 (OMIM 606463), are the most important risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD). In vitro and in vivo studies have reported that ambroxol increases β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme activity and reduces α-synuclein levels. These observations support a potential role for ambroxol therapy in modifying a relevant pathogenetic pathway in PD. Objective: To assess safety, tolerability, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration, and target engagement of ambroxol therapy with GCase in patients with PD with and without GBA1 mutations. Interventions: An escalating dose of oral ambroxol to 1.26 g per day. Design, Setting, and Participants: This single-center open-label noncontrolled clinical trial was conducted between January 11, 2017, and April 25, 2018, at the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neuroscience Centre, a dedicated clinical research facility and part of the University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, United Kingdom. Participants were recruited from established databases at the Royal Free London Hospital and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Twenty-four patients with moderate PD were evaluated for eligibility, and 23 entered the study. Of those, 18 patients completed the study; 1 patient was excluded (failed lumbar puncture), and 4 patients withdrew (predominantly lumbar puncture-related complications). All data analyses were performed from November 1 to December 14, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes at 186 days were the detection of ambroxol in the CSF and a change in CSF GCase activity. Results: Of the 18 participants (15 men [83.3%]; mean [SD] age, 60.2 [9.7] years) who completed the study, 17 (8 with GBA1 mutations and 9 without GBA1 mutations) were included in the primary analysis. Between days 0 and 186, a 156-ng/mL increase in the level of ambroxol in CSF (lower 95% confidence limit, 129 ng/mL; P < .001) was observed. The CSF GCase activity decreased by 19% (0.059 nmol/mL per hour; 95% CI, -0.115 to -0.002; P = .04). The ambroxol therapy was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. An increase of 50 pg/mL (13%) in the CSF α-synuclein concentration (95% CI, 14-87; P = .01) and an increase of 88 ng/mol (35%) in the CSF GCase protein levels (95% CI, 40-137; P = .002) were observed. Mean (SD) scores on part 3 of the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale decreased (ie, improved) by 6.8 (7.1) points (95% CI, -10.4 to -3.1; P = .001). These changes were observed in patients with and without GBA1 mutations. Conclusions and Relevance: The study results suggest that ambroxol therapy was safe and well tolerated; CSF penetration and target engagement of ambroxol were achieved, and CSF α-synuclein levels were increased. Placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to examine whether ambroxol therapy is associated with changes in the natural progression of PD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02941822; EudraCT identifier: 2015-002571-24.
Abstract licence: CC BY
O. Siemeling, S. Slingerland, S. van der Zee, et al.
BMC Neurology, 2024
- Ambroxol
- Glucosylceramidase
- Expectorants
Abstract Background To date, no disease modifying therapies are available for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since PD is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, there is a high demand for such therapies. Both environmental and genetic risk factors play an important role in the etiology and progression of PD. The most common genetic risk factor for PD is a mutation in the GBA1 (GBA)-gene, encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). The mucolytic ambroxol is a repurposed drug, which has shown the property to upregulate GCase activity in-vitro and in-vivo. Ambroxol therefore has the potency to become a disease modifying therapy in PD, which was the reason to design this randomized controlled trial with ambroxol in PD patients. Methods This trial is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, including 80 PD patients with a GBA mutation, receiving either ambroxol 1800 mg/day or placebo for 48 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor subscore (part III) of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS-UPDRSIII) in the practically defined off-state at 60 weeks (after a 12-week washout period). Secondary outcomes include a 3,4-dihydroxy-6-18F-fluoro-I-phenylalanine ([ 18 F]FDOPA) PET-scan of the brain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (with resting state f-MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging), GCase activity, both intra- and extracellularly, sphingolipid profiles in plasma, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), quality of life (QoL) measured by the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and the Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS) questionnaire. Discussion Ambroxol up to 1200 mg/day has shown effects on human cerebrospinal fluid endpoints, which supports at least passage of the blood-brain-barrier. The dose titration in this trial up to 1800 mg/day will reveal if this dose level is safe and also effective in modifying the course of the disease. Trial registration NCT05830396. Registration date: March 20, 2023.
Abstract licence: CC BY
C. Silveira, K. Coleman, Kathy Borron, et al.
JAMA neurology, 2025
Qinhua Fan, Chongming Wu, Yawei Du, et al.
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B, 2024
/IL1R/TRPV1/TRPA1, NGF/TrkA/TRPV1/TRPA1, and PGE2/EP/PKA/TRPV1/TRPA1 might play important roles. Animal experiments further confirmed that inflammation and the immune regulatory effect of JZOL in the treatment of AB were of vital importance and TRP channels were the key mechanism of action.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Di Wu, Xiuhua Fu, Faguang Jin, et al.
BMC Infectious Diseases, 2025
- Ambroxol
- Expectorants
- Administration, Inhalation
BACKGROUND: Ambroxol is a widely used mucoactive agent, but the efficacy of inhaled ambroxol in patients with lower respiratory tract infectious (LRTI) disease is poorly understood. This trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of inhaled ambroxol with those of placebo in patients with LRTI diseases. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial, 240 patients with LRTI diseases were randomized to receive inhaled ambroxol hydrochloride solution (ambroxol group, N = 120) or placebo (placebo group, N = 120) twice daily for 7 days. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the ambroxol group had lower sputum trait scores and greater changes in sputum trait scores from Day 2 to Day 8. Compared with the placebo group, the ambroxol group presented lower expectoration difficulty scores and greater changes in expectoration difficulty scores on Days 2, 3, and 6. The sputum volume scores on Days 6, 7, and 8 were lower in the ambroxol group than in the placebo group, but the change in the sputum volume score was not different between the groups. Compared with the placebo group, the ambroxol group had lower cough scores on Days 3, 5, 6, and 7, as well as greater changes in cough scores on Days 2, 3, and 5. The incidences of adverse events (10.8% versus 6.7%), serious adverse events (0.8% versus 0.0%), and adverse reactions (4.2% versus 3.3%) were not different between the ambroxol group and the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled ambroxol is better at ameliorating respiratory symptoms and has comparable safety to placebo in patients with LRTI diseases.
Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND
Feda E. Mohamed, Fatma Al-Jasmi
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Gaucher disease (GD) is mainly caused by glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme deficiency due to genetic variations in the GBA1 gene leading to the toxic accumulation of sphingolipids in various organs, which causes symptoms such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and neurological manifestations. GD is clinically classified into the non-neuronopathic type 1, and the acute and chronic neuronopathic forms, types 2 and 3, respectively. In addition to the current approved GD medications, the repurposing of Ambroxol (ABX) has emerged as a prospective enzyme enhancement therapy option showing its potential to enhance mutated GCase activity and reduce glucosylceramide accumulation in GD-affected tissues of different GBA1 genotypes. The variability in response to ABX varies across different variants, highlighting the diversity in patients’ therapeutic outcomes. Its oral availability and safety profile make it an attractive option, particularly for patients with neurological manifestations. Clinical trials are essential to explore further ABX’s potential as a therapeutic medication for GD to encourage pharmaceutical companies’ investment in its development. This review highlights the potential of ABX as a pharmacological chaperone therapy for GD and stresses the importance of addressing response variability in clinical studies to improve the management of this rare and complex disorder.
Abstract licence: CC BY
Elham Ahmadi, Arya Afrooghe, Zahra Ebrahim Soltani, et al.
Life sciences, 2024
- Ambroxol
- Bromhexine
- Expectorants
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
7-12 hours
Mechanism
Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent.
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
None mapped
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
Half-life
7-12 hours
Protein binding
90%
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
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How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC R02AD05
ATC R03CC63
ATC R05CB06
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Ambroxol
Additional database identifiers
ChemSpider
10276826
BindingDB
50395322
ZINC
ZINC000100070274
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:2637
GenAtlas
CYP3A4
GeneCards
CYP3A4
GenBank Gene Database
M18907
Guide to Pharmacology
1337
UniProt Accession
CP3A4_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
ATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q221637), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.