Acetylcysteine

Adults: Effervescent tablet or dispersible tablet: adults and children above 6 years should take one effervescent tablet of Acetylcysteine 600 mg a day, preferably in the evening. Treatment usually lasts 5 to 10 days for acute conditions, though it may continue for several months in chronic states on the physician's advice. Dissolve the tablet in a glass containing a small amount of water, stirring with a spoon if needed, to obtain a palatable solution that can be drunk directly from the glass. Effervescent granules: adults and children above 6 years should take 1 sachet of Acetylcysteine 200 mg, or 2 sachets of Acetylcysteine 100 mg, 2 to 3 times a day. Children aged 2 to 6 years should take 1 sachet of Acetylcysteine 100 mg, 2 to 4 times a day depending on age. Treatment usually lasts 5 to 10 days for acute conditions, though it may continue for several months in chronic states on the physician's advice. Dissolve the contents of the sachet in a glass containing a small amount of water, stirring with a spoon if needed, to obtain a palatable solution that can be drunk directly from the glass. Nebuliser solution: the 20% solution may be diluted to a lower concentration using Sodium Chloride for injection, Sodium Chloride for inhalation, sterile water for injection, or sterile water for inhalation. Adults may take 5 to 10 ml of the 10% or 20% solution by nebuliser every 6 to 8 hours as needed (prn). Children aged 1 to 11 months may take 1 to 2 ml of the 20% solution, or 2 to 4 ml of the 10% solution, by nebuliser every 6 to 8 hours prn. Children aged 12 months to 11 years may take 3 to 5 ml of the 20% solution, or 6 to 10 ml of the 10% solution, by nebuliser every 6 to 8 hours prn. Children below 12 years may take 5 to 10 ml of the 10% or 20% solution by nebuliser every 6 to 8 hours prn. For diagnostic bronchograms, 1 to 2 ml of the 20% solution, or 2 to 4 ml of the 10% solution, may be given 2 to 3 times by nebulisation, or by instillation into the trachea, before the procedure. Nebulisation tent or croupette: this method of administration requires very large volumes of the solution, occasionally as much as 300 ml during a single treatment period. If a tent or croupette is used, the recommended dose is whatever volume of the 20% acetylcysteine solution maintains a very heavy mist in the tent or croupette for the desired period. It may be desirable to administer the treatment intermittently or continuously over a prolonged period, including overnight. Direct instillation: when given by direct instillation, 1 to 2 ml of a 20% solution may be given as often as every hour. For routine nursing care of patients with a tracheostomy, 1 to 2 ml of a 20% solution may be given every 1 to 4 hours by instillation into the tracheostomy.