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Characterization of differential patient profiles and therapeutic responses of pharmacy customers for four ambroxol formulations
- Source :
- BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2018), BMC Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- BMC, 2018.
-
Abstract
- Background Ambroxol relieves cough symptoms based on its secretagogue, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, immunomodulatory and local anesthetic effects. The present study was designed to explore differential patient profiles and efficacy against acute respiratory symptoms of four formulations registered as over-the-counter medicines. Methods Nine hundred sixty-five pharmacy customers purchasing one of four branded ambroxol formulations (extended release capsules, adult syrup, pediatric syrup and soft pastilles) filled a questionnaire including a patient-adapted version of the Bronchitis Severity Scale, several questions on degree of impairment by acute cough, time to onset of symptom relief and duration of treatment. Data on pediatric syrup users were entered by their parents. Based on the exploratory character of the study, no hypothesis-testing statistical analysis was applied. Results Users of the pediatric syrup and the pastilles reported somewhat less severe baseline symptoms. The patient-adapted Bronchitis Severity Scale proved feasible as a self-administered tool. Among BSS items, ambroxol formulations improved chest pain while coughing to the largest and sputum to smallest degree (− 75% vs. -40%). Reported efficacy was comparable among formulations with minor differences in favor of the pediatric syrup. Time to onset of symptom relief was less than 60 min in more than 90% of patients and occurred prior to known systemic tmax. Time to onset was the parameter with the greatest differences between formulations, being reported fastest with pastilles and pediatric syrup and, as expected, slowest with extended release capsules. All ambroxol formulations were well tolerated. Conclusions We conclude that over-the-counter formulations of ambroxol exhibit comparable user profiles and efficacy. Differences in speed of onset of symptom relief may involve not only those in systemic pharmacokinetics but also local anesthetic effects of immediate release formulations. Differences between pediatric and adult syrup may in part reflect reporting bias.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Male
Acute cough
Ambroxol
Chest pain
Pharmacology (medical)
Child
Expectorants
Dosage Forms
Local anesthetic
Middle Aged
Treatment Outcome
Pharmacy setting
Child, Preschool
Bronchitis
Female
medicine.symptom
medicine.drug
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
medicine.drug_class
Drug Compounding
Pharmacy
Nonprescription Drugs
Non-interventional study
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
Pharmacokinetics
lcsh:RA1190-1270
Internal medicine
medicine
Humans
ddc:610
lcsh:Toxicology. Poisons
Pharmacology
Pharmacies
business.industry
lcsh:RM1-950
Infant, Newborn
Infant
medicine.disease
030104 developmental biology
lcsh:Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Cough
Sputum
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20506511
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4823f6199646208d066ae68fd2eeccfe