The most important difference between these two forms of Ambroxol release is that tablets are prohibited for children under 6 years old, and syrup is allowed from birth. However, in several European countries in recent years it has been forbidden to prescribe mucolytic drugs for children under 2 years of age due to available studies of complications. At the same time, in Germany, for example, such drugs are prescribed for babies from birth.
Patients with diabetes, as well as people prone to allergic reactions, should choose a tablet form, because the substances contained in the liquid form of Ambroxol can aggravate their condition.
In asthma and lactase deficiency, on the contrary, syrup will be preferable.
And syrup is easier to take if swallowing is difficult, with a sore throat, for example.
If you are collecting a first-aid kit on the road, it would be more advisable to put Ambroxol tablets there, rather than syrup, because, firstly, they take up less space, and secondly, there is no risk that the bottle with syrup will break.
The price of tablets and syrup is not significantly different.
Thus, we can conclude that the choice of the form of the drug depends on the age of the patient and the individual characteristics of his body, the presence of chronic diseases. In other cases, you should choose what is more convenient to take, store and transport, since there is no significant difference in action between the syrup and Ambroxol tablets.
Surely, each of us at least several times in our life had colds or viral diseases, accompanied by such an unpleasant symptom as a cough. In general, a cough is a protective reaction of the body, so it cleans the person’s airways from foreign substances, in this case from germs and viruses. Often the cough does not go away for a long time, it is difficult for the patient to expectorate the gathering sputum, and then medications that alleviate the course of the disease come to the aid, for example, Ambroxol known to everyone.
Ambroxol is a common drug related to mucolytic agents that make sputum in the lungs and bronchi more fluid, without increasing its volume, and thereby facilitate its coughing. Mucolytics are mainly used for serious diseases: bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, however, they are often prescribed to alleviate the condition during acute respiratory viral infections if coughing brings discomfort to the patient.
There are many dosage forms of Ambroxol:
- Tablets.
- Capsules
- Pastilles.
- Lozenges.
- Effervescent tablets.
- Syrup.
- Solutions for inhalation and for intravenous administration.
The most popular among them are syrup and tablets. How to find out which type of Ambroxol to choose?
Tablet Form of Ambroxol
1 tablet contains 30 mg of ambroxol hydrochloride and excipients – lactose monohydrate, potato starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate. The package contains 1 or 2 blisters, each containing 10 tablets. The dosage regimen depends on the age of the patient: 6-12 years – half a tablet 3 times a day after meals, with a small amount of water, adults – 1 tablet.
Syrup Ambroxol
The active substance is the same (in 1 ml of syrup – 3 mg of Ambroxol hydrochloride). In addition, the syrup additionally contains: propylene glycol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, ethanol, sorbitol, flavor, purified water. The product is available in 100 ml bottles. Syrup is usually prescribed for children 2-6 years old: 1 teaspoon 3 times a day after meals. For babies up to 24 months, the drug can be prescribed by a pediatrician in an individual dosage.
What is common between tablet and liquid form of Ambroxol?
Half an hour after taking Ambroxol is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and begins to act, the effect lasts 12 hours until the next dose. Like all mucolytics, this drug converts sputum in the lungs and bronchi to a more viscous state, thereby facilitating its removal from the respiratory tract. In addition, Ambroxol performs other functions:
- Increases the ability of cells to secrete secretion – a special substance that protects and moisturizes the surface of the respiratory tract.
- Restores the epithelial layer of lung cells.
- Prevents the breakdown of substances inside the pulmonary alveoli,
- Increases the “productivity” of cough.
- It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Indications for the appointment of Ambroxol:
- Acute and chronic bronchitis.
- Pneumonia.
- Acute tracheitis.
- Tuberculosis of the respiratory system.
Duration of admission is no more than 5-7 days. Usually, an improvement occurs within 4-6 days, but if this does not happen, you should consult your doctor
The main contraindications for use:
- Allergy to the components of Ambroxol.
- First trimester of pregnancy (in the second and third trimester – only in special cases, after consulting a therapist and gynecologist),
- Lactation.
Particular attention should be paid to the use of Ambroxol in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers, renal and hepatic insufficiency.
Symptoms of an overdose: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In this case, gastric lavage is sometimes necessary.
It should be remembered that mucolytic and antitussive drugs oppositely affect the human body. The latter suppress the cough, thereby preventing sputum from leaving the lungs. That is why they are not appointed at the same time.
When taking Ambroxol, the patient needs to increase the amount of fluid consumed per day.
It should also be borne in mind that Ambroxol enhances the effect of antibiotics.
The main differences between different dosage forms
Tablets compared with syrup have a number of additional restrictions in the appointment:
- Age 0-6 years.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Lactase enzyme deficiency.
It is also easy to guess that the syrup is absorbed faster due to the fact that the active substances in it are already dissolved, and the body does not need to spend energy on this. Although in official instructions, the absorption time of the syrup and Ambroxol tablets is the same – about half an hour.
