Bromhexine 8mg tablets
Requires a prescription from a doctor or prescriber
Bromhexine is mucolytic agent used for a variety of respiratory conditions associated with increased mucus secretion.
Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
View Drug Analysis Profile
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Bromhexine
Browse all iDAP reports
Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines
Report a side effect
Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA
Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.
View EudraVigilance report
Suspected adverse reactions reported for Bromhexine
About EudraVigilance
Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring
EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.
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.
Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
Pharmacy stock checkers
Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.
Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
Browse tools
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 the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 6 · Randomised trials: 13 · 1978–2026
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Khalil Ansarin, Ramin Tolouian, Mohammadreza Ardalan, et al.
Bioimpacts, 2020
Dhammika Leshan Wannigama, Cameron Hurst, Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen, et al.
EClinicalMedicine, 2024
A. Eslami Ghayour, S. Nazari, F. Keramat, et al.
Revista clinica espanola, 2024
- Bromhexine
- COVID-19
- Acetylcysteine
Ramírez D, Rojas R, Fierro H, et al.
2024
- Bromhexine
- Expectorants
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Ghayour AE, Nazari S, Keramat F, et al.
2023
Abstract This study aimed to compare the effects of N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine on the recovery rate and prevention of hospitalization in outpatients with COVID-19. PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients were divided into three groups: N-acetylcysteine group, Bromhexine group, and control group. Patients were followed up on the seventh and fourteenth days of the disease, and hospitalization and mortality rates were evaluated after one month. The study found that both N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine can effectively reduce hospitalization rates and mortality and shorten the duration of hospitalization. The third visit of patients who received N-acetylcysteine showed an increase of 1.33% in oxygen saturation compared to their first visit, and in patients who received Bromhexine, this increase was 1.19%. The mortality rate was 9.33% in the control group and zero in both groups of patients who received medication. This study provides evidence for the early initiation of N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine in outpatients with COVID-19. Clinical trial code: IRCT20220302054167N1, ethics code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1400.957.
Abstract licence: CC BY 4.0
Clementino M, Neto RdJP, Mesquita RF, et al.
2023
Humberto Fierro, Daniela Alejandra Nova, Estibaliz Ampuero, et al.
2024
Anahita Eslami Ghayour, Sasan Nazari, Fariba Keramat, et al.
2023
Abstract Objectives: Due to the referral of COVID-19 patients to outpatient centers in the early stages, the aim of the present study is to compare the effect of N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine on the recovery rate and prevention of hospitalization in outpatients with COVID-19 Methodology: This study was conducted from April 2022 to September 2022. First, PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients were divided into tree groups, one of these groups received N-acetylcysteine while the other received bromhexine and One of these groups did not receive any medication. The patients were followed up on the seventh and fourteenth days of the disease in terms of the duration of changes in oxygen saturation and recovery. The hospitalization and death of the patients were also evaluated after one month. Results: Out of 225 studied patients, oxygen saturation was increased by 1.33% in the third visit of the patients who received N-acetylcysteine compared to their first visit. This percentage was 1.19% in the patients who received bromhexine.29.77% of the patients were admitted to the hospital and 70.23% of them had no history of hospitalization within 14 day and their mortality rate was 9.33% in control group and it was zero in both groups of patients who received drug. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that early initiation of Bromhexine and N-acetylcysteine can effectively reduce the hospitalization rate and mortality and shorten the duration of hospitalization. Clinical trial code: IRCT20220302054167N1 and ethics code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1400.957
Abstract licence: CC BY 4.0
Markus Depfenhart, Danielle de Villiers, Gottfried Lemperle, et al.
Internal and Emergency Medicine, 2020
- Betacoronavirus
- COVID-19
- SARS-CoV-2
María Luz Vila Méndez, Carmen Antón Sanz, Alicia del Rocío Cárdenas García, et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022
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
31.4 hours
Mechanism
Inflammation of the airways, increased mucus secretion, and altered mucociliary…
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
2 targets
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
8-32 mg
Half-life
32 mg
[L33060]
Protein binding
95%
[L33060]
Volume of distribution
206 L
Metabolism
Elimination
97%
[L33060]…
Clearance
843-1073 mL/min
[L33060]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[L29975][L24819][L33060]
Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Showing 50 of 328 interactions
[L33125]
The observed symptoms of accidental overdose with bromhexine are consistent with the
known adverse effects of bromhexine, including headache, nausea, and vomiting, among other symptoms. Provide symptomatic treatment and contact poison control services if an overdose is confirmed or suspected.
[L33060]
Recent have studies have demonstrated that bromhexine inhibits the transmembrane serine protease 2 receptor (TMPRSS2) in humans. Activation of TMPRSS2 plays an important role in viral respiratory diseases such as influenza A and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Inhibition of receptor activation and viral entry by bromhexine may be effective in preventing or treating various respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.[A233345][A233350] In vitro studies have suggested the action of ambroxol (a metabolite of bromhexine) on the angiogensin-converting enzyme receptor 2 (ACE2), prevents entry of the viral envelope-anchored spike glycoprotein of SARS-Cov-2 into alveolar cells or increases the secretion of surfactant, preventing viral entry.[A233365 ,A233370]
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[A233285][L33060]
The bioavailability is therefore reduced to approximately 22-27%.
[L33060]
[L33060]
[L33060]
Lung tissue concentrations of bromhexine two hours after a dose were 1.5 to 3.2 times higher in bronchial tissues than plasma concentrations. Pulmonary parynchema concentrations were 3.4 to 5.9 times higher when compared to plasma concentrations.
[L33060]
[L33060]
In one study of human plasma, (E)-4-hydroxydemethylbromhexine (E-4-HDMB) and (E)-3-hydroxydemethylbromhexine (E-3-HDMB) were quantified as major metabolites of ambroxol, and (Z)-4-hydroxydemethylbromhexine and (Z)-3-hydroxydemethylbromhexine were quantified as minor metabolites.
[A233340]
[L33060]
[L33060]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
PMID:32703818 PMID:35676539 PMID:37990007 PMID:38964328
Participates in proteolytic cascades of relevance for the normal physiologic function of the prostate .
PMID:25122198
Androgen-induced TMPRSS2 activates several substrates that include pro-hepatocyte growth factor/HGF, the protease activated receptor-2/F2RL1 or matriptase/ST14 leading to extracellular matrix disruption and metastasis of prostate cancer cells .
PMID:15537383 PMID:25122198 PMID:26018085
In addition, activates trigeminal neurons and contribute to both spontaneous pain and mechanical allodynia (By similarity)
PMID:27217402
Converts angiotensin I to angiotensin 1-9, a nine-amino acid peptide with anti-hypertrophic effects in cardiomyocytes, and angiotensin II to angiotensin 1-7, which then acts as a beneficial vasodilator and anti-proliferation agent, counterbalancing the actions of the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II .
PMID:10924499 PMID:10969042 PMID:11815627 PMID:14504186 PMID:19021774
Also removes the C-terminal residue from three other vasoactive peptides, neurotensin, kinetensin, and des-Arg bradykinin, but is not active on bradykinin .
PMID:10969042 PMID:11815627
Also cleaves other biological peptides, such as apelins (apelin-13, [Pyr1]apelin-13, apelin-17, apelin-36), casomorphins (beta-casomorphin-7, neocasomorphin) and dynorphin A with high efficiency .
PMID:11815627 PMID:27217402 PMID:28293165
In addition, ACE2 C-terminus is homologous to collectrin and is responsible for the trafficking of the neutral amino acid transporter SL6A19 to the plasma membrane of gut epithelial cells via direct interaction, regulating its expression on the cell surface and its catalytic activity PMID:18424768 PMID:19185582
Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions
ATC R05CB02
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Show
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Bromhexine
Additional database identifiers
ChemSpider
2348
BindingDB
50239965
ZINC
ZINC000000608220
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:11876
GeneCards
TMPRSS2
Guide to Pharmacology
2421
UniProt Accession
TMPS2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:13557
GenAtlas
ACE2
GeneCards
ACE2
GenBank Gene Database
AF291820
GenBank Protein Database
9802433
Guide to Pharmacology
1614
UniProt Accession
ACE2_HUMAN
HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)
HGNC:13557
GenAtlas
ACE2
GeneCards
ACE2
GenBank Gene Database
AF291820
GenBank Protein Database
9802433
Guide to Pharmacology
1614
UniProt Accession
ACE2_HUMAN
DrugBank citations
If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:
Show earlier publications
Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
ATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q239778), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication. WHO INN from the World Health Organization.