Bromhexine 1

Bromhexine
Bromhexine

Systematic (IUPAC) name

2,4-dibromo-6-{[cyclohexyl(methyl)amino]methyl}aniline
Identifiers

CAS number [1]

3572-43-8

ATC code [2]

R05 CB02

PubChem [3]
CID 2442

ChemSpider [4]
2348

Chemical data

Formula C14H20Br2N2

Mol. mass 376.13

SMILES [5]
eMolecules & PubChem
[6]

Pharmacokinetic data

Bioavailability 75-80%

Half-life 12 hr

Therapeutic considerations

Pregnancy cat. A (Aus)

Legal status

Bromhexine is a mucolytic agent used in the treatment of respiratory disorders associated with viscid or excessive
mucus. In addition, bromhexine has antioxidant properties.[7]
Bromhexine 2

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 reason it is often added to some antitussive
(cough) syrups.
Bromhexine is a synthetic derivative of the herbal active ingredient vasicine. It has been shown to increase the
proportion of serous bronchial secretion, making it more easily to be expectorated. Bromhexine also enhances mucus
transport by reducing mucus viscosity and by activating the ciliated epithelium. In clinical studies, Bromhexine
showed secretolytic and secretomotoric effects in the bronchial tract area which facilitates expectoration and eases
cough. It is indicated as “secretolytic therapy in bronchopulmonary diseases associated with abnormal mucus
secretion and impaired mucus transport”. Bromhexine is contained in various formulations, high and low strength
syrups 8mg/5ml, 4 mg/5ml, tablets and soluble tablets (both with 8 mg bromhexine) and solution for oral use 10 mg/
5 ml), adapted to the need of the patients. The posology varies with the age, but there are products for all age groups
from infant on. Bromhexine is a well established and well tolerated product in its indication.
Sometimes it is replaced by its metabolite ambroxol, as in Mucosolvan or Mucoangin.

Brand names
• Bisolvon Forte - link International website Bisolvon.com [8]
• Hoesttabletten Bromhexine HCl
• Paxirasol
• Barkacin
• Vasican
• Bisolex

References
[1] http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ cgi/ mesh/ 2009/ MB_cgi?term=3572-43-8& rn=1
[2] http:/ / www. whocc. no/ atc_ddd_index/ ?code=R05CB02
[3] http:/ / pubchem. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ summary/ summary. cgi?cid=2442
[4] http:/ / www. chemspider. com/ Chemical-Structure. 2348
[5] http:/ / www. emolecules. com/ cgi-bin/ search?t=ex& q=Brc1cc%28c%28N%29c%28Br%29c1%29CN%28C%29C2CCCCC2
[6] http:/ / pubchem. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ search/ ?smarts=Brc1cc%28c%28N%29c%28Br%29c1%29CN%28C%29C2CCCCC2
[7] Morton, Ian; Hall, Judith (1999). Concise Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=mqaOMOtk61IC&
pg=PA55). Springer. p. 55. ISBN 0751404993. . Retrieved 2009-06-03.
[8] http:/ / www. bisolvon. com
Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and Contributors

Bromhexine  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=367013013  Contributors: Almw113, Arcadian, Beetstra, Casforty, Collinf, Ean84, Edgar181, Hemlock Martinis, Iridescent,
Jorgenumata, Kay.fluhr, Markhurd, Nirmos, Pen1234567, Persian splendour, QWen71n, Rifleman 82, Russell E, Selket, Stepa, Tavilis, Third and, Yo-sei Shoshi, ‫طبلا يلع نسح‬, 23 anonymous
edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

file:Bromhexine-PlainSVG.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bromhexine-PlainSVG.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:
User:Pen1234567

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
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