What do we know about Bro-Zedex as a treatment for COVID-19?
What do we know about Bro-Zedex as a treatment for COVID-19?
This explainer is more than 90 days old. Some of the information might be out of date or no longer relevant. Browse our homepage for up to date content or request information about a specific topic from our team of scientists.
This article has been translated from its original language. Please reach out if you have any feedback on the translation.
Bro-Zedex is a cough syrup that is used to treat symptoms of a cough. There are Bro-Zedex formulas for both wet and dry coughs, and the ingredients in each type are different. For wet coughs, the key ingredient in the orange-colored Bro-Zedex is bromhexine, which is a medication that treats respiratory issues that cause excessive mucus and phlegm in the throat and mouth. Bromhexine does this by making the mucus in the throat thinner and easier to remove through coughing. This formula's other ingredients - menthol, guaifenesin, and terbutaline - can make the phlegm in your chest and throat thinner so it's easier to cough up, cool and soothe sore throats, and relax the muscles in your airways. For dry coughs, Bro-Zedex comes in a green liquid and its main ingredients are ambroxol, levosalbutamol, and guaifenesin. This formula loosens congestion in your chest and throat by breaking up phlegm and also relaxing the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. Though these formulas work in similar ways, their ingredients are meant to relieve specific symptoms that come with wet and dry coughs. Bro-Zedex is not used as a treatment for COVID-19 on its own, but may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms that occur in mild to moderate cases of the infection, like coughing and phlegm build-up. Current research is looking at whether bromhexine can be taken for prevention - before a COVID-19 infection to prevent someone from getting sick, or as part of a treatment plan in more severe cases to help improve some symptoms. Bro-Zedex is also part of clinical trials where researchers are looking to see if it can shorten the amount of time a person has COVID-19 symptoms or help prevent hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 from becoming infected with other respiratory illnesses while they are still in the hospital. _This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020._
Bro-Zedex is a cough syrup that is used to treat symptoms of a cough. There are Bro-Zedex formulas for both wet and dry coughs, and the ingredients in each type are different. For wet coughs, the key ingredient in the orange-colored Bro-Zedex is bromhexine, which is a medication that treats respiratory issues that cause excessive mucus and phlegm in the throat and mouth. Bromhexine does this by making the mucus in the throat thinner and easier to remove through coughing. This formula's other ingredients - menthol, guaifenesin, and terbutaline - can make the phlegm in your chest and throat thinner so it's easier to cough up, cool and soothe sore throats, and relax the muscles in your airways. For dry coughs, Bro-Zedex comes in a green liquid and its main ingredients are ambroxol, levosalbutamol, and guaifenesin. This formula loosens congestion in your chest and throat by breaking up phlegm and also relaxing the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. Though these formulas work in similar ways, their ingredients are meant to relieve specific symptoms that come with wet and dry coughs. Bro-Zedex is not used as a treatment for COVID-19 on its own, but may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms that occur in mild to moderate cases of the infection, like coughing and phlegm build-up. Current research is looking at whether bromhexine can be taken for prevention - before a COVID-19 infection to prevent someone from getting sick, or as part of a treatment plan in more severe cases to help improve some symptoms. Bro-Zedex is also part of clinical trials where researchers are looking to see if it can shorten the amount of time a person has COVID-19 symptoms or help prevent hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 from becoming infected with other respiratory illnesses while they are still in the hospital. _This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020._
Publication
What our experts say
Bro-Zedex is a cough syrup that is used to treat symptoms of a cough. There are Bro-Zedex formulas for both wet and dry coughs, and the ingredients in each type are different. For wet coughs, the key ingredient in the orange-colored Bro-Zedex is bromhexine, which is a medication that treats respiratory issues that cause excessive mucus and phlegm in the throat and mouth. Bromhexine does this by making the mucus in the throat thinner and easier to remove through coughing. This formula's other ingredients - menthol, guaifenesin, and terbutaline - can make the phlegm in your chest and throat thinner so it's easier to cough up, cool and soothe sore throats, and relax the muscles in your airways. For dry coughs, Bro-Zedex comes in a green liquid and its main ingredients are ambroxol, levosalbutamol, and guaifenesin. This formula loosens congestion in your chest and throat by breaking up phlegm and also relaxing the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. Though these formulas work in similar ways, their ingredients are meant to relieve specific symptoms that come with wet and dry coughs.
Bro-Zedex is not used as a treatment for COVID-19 on its own, but may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms that occur in mild to moderate cases of the infection, like coughing and phlegm build-up. Current research is looking at whether bromhexine can be taken for prevention - before a COVID-19 infection to prevent someone from getting sick, or as part of a treatment plan in more severe cases to help improve some symptoms. Bro-Zedex is also part of clinical trials where researchers are looking to see if it can shorten the amount of time a person has COVID-19 symptoms or help prevent hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 from becoming infected with other respiratory illnesses while they are still in the hospital.
This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020.
Bro-Zedex is a cough syrup that is used to treat symptoms of a cough. There are Bro-Zedex formulas for both wet and dry coughs, and the ingredients in each type are different. For wet coughs, the key ingredient in the orange-colored Bro-Zedex is bromhexine, which is a medication that treats respiratory issues that cause excessive mucus and phlegm in the throat and mouth. Bromhexine does this by making the mucus in the throat thinner and easier to remove through coughing. This formula's other ingredients - menthol, guaifenesin, and terbutaline - can make the phlegm in your chest and throat thinner so it's easier to cough up, cool and soothe sore throats, and relax the muscles in your airways. For dry coughs, Bro-Zedex comes in a green liquid and its main ingredients are ambroxol, levosalbutamol, and guaifenesin. This formula loosens congestion in your chest and throat by breaking up phlegm and also relaxing the muscles in your airway so you can breathe easier. Though these formulas work in similar ways, their ingredients are meant to relieve specific symptoms that come with wet and dry coughs.
Bro-Zedex is not used as a treatment for COVID-19 on its own, but may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms that occur in mild to moderate cases of the infection, like coughing and phlegm build-up. Current research is looking at whether bromhexine can be taken for prevention - before a COVID-19 infection to prevent someone from getting sick, or as part of a treatment plan in more severe cases to help improve some symptoms. Bro-Zedex is also part of clinical trials where researchers are looking to see if it can shorten the amount of time a person has COVID-19 symptoms or help prevent hospitalized patients infected with COVID-19 from becoming infected with other respiratory illnesses while they are still in the hospital.
This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020.
Context and background
Bro-Zedex is a liquid medication that may be used to treat cough symptoms by thinning mucous and decreasing swelling so that people can breathe easier. Both formulas are made of a combination of bromhexine, guaifenesin, menthol, and terbutaline. There is little research available about this medication, but similar medicines are being tested to see if they may help people manage symptoms of COVID-19.
The first listed ingredient, bromhexine, is not available in the U.S. and is labeled only for animal use in some other countries. In places where it is approved, bromhexine is used to treat chest congestion by breaking down mucous and making it easier to cough the mucous out. The other ingredients are commonly used either alone or in combination with other medications. Guaifenesin is used to help cough up mucous and clear it from the chest and is found in many non-prescription cold and cough medicines. Menthol is used to help decrease coughing and is commonly an ingredient in non-prescription lozenges. Terbutaline is commonly used to help open airways to help people breathe more easily; it is usually only available with a prescription. Side effects common to Bro-Zedex include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, sweating, increased heart rate, tiredness, headache, and tremors. While side effects usually go away once the medication is stopped, contact your doctor if you experience these or other concerning side effects. Taking this medication for a long time or in large doses may be harmful. In addition, there are many interactions between common prescription and non-prescription medications and the medications in Bro-Zedex. If you are taking other medications, you should talk to your brother before taking Bro-Zedex.
This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020.
Bro-Zedex is a liquid medication that may be used to treat cough symptoms by thinning mucous and decreasing swelling so that people can breathe easier. Both formulas are made of a combination of bromhexine, guaifenesin, menthol, and terbutaline. There is little research available about this medication, but similar medicines are being tested to see if they may help people manage symptoms of COVID-19.
The first listed ingredient, bromhexine, is not available in the U.S. and is labeled only for animal use in some other countries. In places where it is approved, bromhexine is used to treat chest congestion by breaking down mucous and making it easier to cough the mucous out. The other ingredients are commonly used either alone or in combination with other medications. Guaifenesin is used to help cough up mucous and clear it from the chest and is found in many non-prescription cold and cough medicines. Menthol is used to help decrease coughing and is commonly an ingredient in non-prescription lozenges. Terbutaline is commonly used to help open airways to help people breathe more easily; it is usually only available with a prescription. Side effects common to Bro-Zedex include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, sweating, increased heart rate, tiredness, headache, and tremors. While side effects usually go away once the medication is stopped, contact your doctor if you experience these or other concerning side effects. Taking this medication for a long time or in large doses may be harmful. In addition, there are many interactions between common prescription and non-prescription medications and the medications in Bro-Zedex. If you are taking other medications, you should talk to your brother before taking Bro-Zedex.
This entry was updated with new information on August 11, 2020.
Resources
- Potential new treatment strategies for COVID-19: is there a role for bromhexine as add-on therapy? (IEM)
- Possible use of the mucolytic drug, bromhexine hydrochloride, as a prophylactic agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection based on its action on the Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (PR)
- Use of Bromhexine and Hydroxychloroquine for Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia (Clinicaltrials.gov)
- Changes to the use of bromhexine or codeine-containing cough and cold medicines in children (Medsafe)
- Bro-Zedex (1mg)
- Bromhexine (RxWiki) (drugs.com)(Practo)
- Terbutaline (Merck Manual)
- Guaifenesin (Oral Route) (MayoClinic)
- Bro-Zedex LS (1mg)
- Potential new treatment strategies for COVID-19: is there a role for bromhexine as add-on therapy? (IEM)
- Possible use of the mucolytic drug, bromhexine hydrochloride, as a prophylactic agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection based on its action on the Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (PR)
- Use of Bromhexine and Hydroxychloroquine for Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia (Clinicaltrials.gov)
- Changes to the use of bromhexine or codeine-containing cough and cold medicines in children (Medsafe)
- Bro-Zedex (1mg)
- Bromhexine (RxWiki) (drugs.com)(Practo)
- Terbutaline (Merck Manual)
- Guaifenesin (Oral Route) (MayoClinic)
- Bro-Zedex LS (1mg)
