Abiways

Abiways Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Acetylcysteine has a mucolytic activity through its free sulfhydryl group. It acts directly on the mucoproteins to open the disulfide bonds and thus lowers the viscosity of the mucous and facilitates its removal by the muco-cillary action and expectoration. Acetylcysteine improves the phagocytic capacity of the alveolar macrophages, thus protecting lungs from a variety of insults. Acetylcysteine is a precursor to glutathione, the most important intra & extra-cellular antioxidant (the safest & most convenient)

Acetylcysteine is indicated for mucolytic therapy and in the management of acetaminophen overdose. It has a short duration of action as it is given every 1-8 hours depending on route of administration, and has a wide therapeutic window. Patients should be counselled regarding diluting oral solutions in cola for taste masking, the risk of hypersensitivity, and the risk of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Abiways
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Abiways
Generic	Acetylcysteine + Acebrophylline
Weight	600mg
Type	Tablet
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer	Mankind Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Available Country	India
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Acetylcysteine is used for an adjunctive treatment for patients with abnormal, viscid or inspissated mucus secretions associated with conditions such as-

Acute and chronic bronchopulmonary disorders (e.g. pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, tracheobronchitis, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, primary amyloidosis of the lung) Atelectasis caused by mucus obstruction Pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis Pulmonary complications of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Post-traumatic chest conditions.

It is effective in all respiratory airways disease causing formation of a dense secretion that cannot be or can only partially be expectorated such as acute and chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, tracheitis, infuenza & bronchial asthma. Acetylcysteine is also used for the treatment of Paracetamol overdose. Treatment option is optimal if given within 8 hours of Paracetamol ingestion.

Abiways is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Acetaminophen Overdose, Chronic Rhinitis, Corneal Diseases, Corneal ulceration, Crusting Rhinitis, Keratopathy, Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Vasomotor Rhinitis, Acute Rhinitis, Subacute Rhinitis, Airway secretion clearance therapy

How Abiways works

A number of possible mechanisms for the mucolytic activity of acetylcysteine have been proposed. Acetylcysteine's sulfhydryl groups may hydrolize disulfide bonds within mucin, breaking down the oligomers, and making the mucin less viscous. Acetylcysteine has also been shown to reduce mucin secretion in rat models. It is an antioxidant in its own right but is also deacetylated to cysteine, which participates in the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. The antioxidant activity may also alter intracellular redox reactions, decreasing phosphorylation of EGFR and MAPK, which decrease transcription of the gene MUC5AC which produces mucin.

In the case of acetaminophen overdoses, a portion of the drug is metabolized by CYP2E1 to form the potentially toxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). The amount of NAPQI produced in an overdose saturates and depletes glutathione stores. The free NAPQI promiscuously binds to proteins in hepatocytes, leading to cellular necrosis. Acetylcysteine can directly conjugate NAPQI or provide cysteine for glutathione production and NAPQI conjugation.

Dosage

Abiways dosage

Acetylcysteine Tablet:

The dispersible tablet should be dissolved in 1/2 glass of water before use (preferably in the evening). The duration of treatment should be 5 to 10 days in the acute phase. It may be continued in the chronic state for up to 6 months or according to the advice of the physician.

As a mucolytic:

Adults: 600 mg daily as a single dose.
In Paracetamol overdose: Initially 140 mg/kg, followed by 70 mg/kg every 4 hours for an additional 17 doses. As an antidote, Acetylcysteine is reported to be very effective when administered within 8 hours of Paracetamol overdose, with the protective effect diminishing after this time. Initiation of treatment after a lapse of 15 hours has previously been thought to be ineffective, but recent studies suggest that beneficial results may still be obtained.

Acetylcysteine Respirator Solution:

The 20% solution may be diluted to a lesser concentration with either Sodium Chloride for injection, Sodium Chloride for inhalation, sterile water for injection, or sterile water for inhalation.

As a mucolytic:

Adult:

5-10 ml of 10% or 20% solution by nebulizer every 6-8 hr PRN.

Children:

1-11 months: 1-2 ml of 20% or 2-4 ml of 10% solution by nebulizer every 6-8 hr PRN.
12 months-11 years: 3-5 ml of 20% or 6-10 ml of 10% solution by nebulizer every 6-8 hr PRN.
Below 12 years: 5-10 ml of 10/20% solution by nebulizer every 6-8 hr PRN.

Diagnostic Bronchograms: 1-2 ml of 20% or 2-4 ml of 10% solution 2-3 times by nebulization or by instillation intratracheally prior to procedure.

Nebulization tent or croupette: This form 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 must be used, the recommended dose is the volume of acetylcysteine (using 20%) that will maintain a very heavy mist in the tent or croupette for the desired period. Administration for intermittent or continuous prolonged periods, including overnight, may be desirable.

Direct Instillation: When used by direct instillation, 1-2 ml of a 20% solution may be given as often as every hour. When used for the routine nursing care of patients with tracheostomy, 1-2 ml of a 20% solution may be given every 1-4 hours by instillation into the tracheostomy.

Side Effects

Generally, Acetylcysteine is well tolerated. However, mild effects such as nausea, headache, tinnitus, urticaria, stomatitis, rhinorrhoea, chills, fever, bronchospasm may be observed. Occasional cases of nausea and dyspepsia, rare cases of urticaria may be observed.

Toxicity

Patients experiencing an overdose may present with vomiting, nausea, bronchospasm, periorbital angioedema, and hypotension. Treat patients with symptomatic and supportive measures. Hemodialysis may remove some acetylcysteine from circulation as it is somewhat protein bound.

Precaution

Acetylcysteine should be given in caution in asthma patients.

Interaction

After taking Acetylcysteine orally it increases the bioavailability of Amoxicillin, but shows no effect on Doxycycline and reduces the absorption of Cefalexin. Acetylcysteine seems to increase the effects of Nitroglycerin.

Volume of Distribution

The volume of distribution of acetylcysteine is 0.47 L/kg.

Elimination Route

An 11 g dose in the form of an effervescent tablet for solution reaches a mean C_max of 26.5 µg/mL, with a T_max of 2 hours, and an AUC of 186 µg*h/mL.