An assessment of S-carboxymethylcysteine in the treatment of chronic bronchitis

Summary

A single-blind study is reported of S-carboxymethylcysteine, administered as a 5% w/v syrup at a dosage of 3×5 ml. three times daily, compared with placebo therapy in the treatment of 30 patients with chronic bronchitis.

The great majority of patients reported greater ease of expectoration, decrease in severity and frequency of coughing, and an increase in the volumes of sputum expectorated, A statistically significant increase in PEFR, accompanied by an improvement in the severity of dyspnoea and functional grade was recorded; these indices deteriorated following the withdrawal of S-carboxymethylcysteine.

Overall clinical assessment at the end of a period of 8 weeks (bweeks baseline therapy on placebo followed by 6-weeks treatment with S-carboxymethylcysteine syrup) indicated that 23 patients had improved and none had deteriorated. Deterioration in all parameters occurred after withdrawal of the drug.

Key words::

• Bronchitis
• S-carboxymethylcysteine
• mucolytic agents