Introduction
Aceten is a prescription medicine used for reducing mucous secretion in various lung diseases like bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. It is also used to treat poisoning caused by paracetamol medicine overdose.
Aceten can be taken with or without food, but take it at the same time to get the most benefit. It should be taken as your doctor's advice. The dose and how often you take it depends on what you are taking it for. Your doctor will decide how much you need to improve your symptoms. Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water and drink it immediately. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you. In case, you have missed any doses than it is better to take the next dose as soon as you remember it. However, you should never take a double dose.
The most common side effects of this medicine include fever, nausea, vomiting, and rash. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them. Generally, it is advised to drink plenty of fluids while on treatment with this medicine.
Before taking this medicine let your doctor know if you suffer from asthma, as close monitoring is required while taking this medicine. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Uses of Aceten
- Respiratory disease with excessive mucus
Side effects of Aceten
Common
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
How to use Aceten
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Aceten may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Aceten works
Aceten is a mucolytic medication. It works by thinning the mucus (phlegm) making it easier to cough out. Thus, it clears the air passages and makes breathing easier. It also has antioxidant action.
What if you forget to take Aceten?
If you miss a dose of Aceten, please consult your doctor.
Indication
Oral
As a mucolytic
Adult: As effervescent granules or tablets: 200 mg tid.
Paracetamol poisoning
Adult: After gastric lavage or induction of emesis with ipecac syrup, admin loading dose of 140 mg/kg, followed by maintenance doses of 70 mg/kg every 4 hr for a total of 17 doses. 1st maintenance dose to be given 4 hr after the loading dose. Repeat dose if the patient vomits within 1 hr of admin. Continue therapy until paracetamol levels are not detectable and there is no evidence of hepatotoxicity.
Inhalation
As a mucolytic
Adult: 3-5 ml of a 20% solution or 6-10 ml of a 10% solution 3-4 times daily by nebulising through a face mask, mouth piece or tracheostomy. May increase to 1-10 ml of a 20% solution or 2-20 ml of a 10% solution every 2-6 hr if needed.
Endotracheal
As a mucolytic
Adult: Instill 1-2 ml of a 10-20% solution as often as every hrly.
Administration
Drug stability and safety of acetylcysteine when mixed with other drugs in a nebulizer have not been established.
Adult Dose
Asthmatic patients, history of bronchospasm, peptic ulceration. Pregnancy, lactation.
Lactation: Unknown whether agent is excreted in milk; use with caution.
Renal Dose
Acetylcysteine may decrease the viscosity of secretions by splitting of disulphide bonds in mucoproteins. It also promotes the detoxification of an intermediate paracetamol metabolite which is used in the management of paracetamol overdosage.
Contraindication
Oral
As a mucolytic
Child: As effervescent granules or tablets: 2-7 yr: 200 mg bid; <2 yr: 200 mg daily.
Paracetamol poisoning
Child: After gastric lavage or induction of emesis with ipecac syrup, admin loading dose of 140 mg/kg, followed by maintenance doses of 70 mg/kg every 4 hr for a total of 17 doses. 1st maintenance dose to be given 4 hr after the loading dose. Repeat dose if the patient vomits within 1 hr of admin. Continue therapy until paracetamol levels are not detectable and there is no evidence of hepatotoxicity.
Inhalation
As a mucolytic
Child: 3-5 ml of a 20% solution or 6-10 ml of a 10% solution 3-4 times daily by nebulising through a face mask, mouth piece or tracheostomy. May increase to 1-10 ml of a 20% solution or 2-20 ml of a 10% solution every 2-6 hr if needed.
Endotracheal
As a mucolytic
Child: Instill 1-2 ml of a 10-20% solution as often as every hrly.
Precaution
Tuberculosis, Chronic emphysema, Paracetamol poisoning, Bronchiectasis, Pneumonia, Atelectasis, Cystic fibrosis, Tracheostomy care, during anaesthesia
Pregnancy Category Note
Flushing, fever, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, rhinorrhoea, bronchospasm, anaphylactoid reactions, rashes. Rarely, blurred vision, bradycardia, syncope, thrombocytopenia, convulsions.
Potentially Fatal: Rarely, respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Interaction
Acetylcysteine is contraindicated in those patients who are sensitive to it.