Mucinac 600: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Mucinac, Mucinac 600 mg, Mucinac effervescent tablet, Acetylcysteine 600 mg effervescent tablet
Mucinac 600 is an effervescent tablet containing 600 mg of acetylcysteine, used to thin thick, sticky mucus in some chest conditions so that it is easier to cough up. The tablet is dissolved in water and drunk at once. It is not a cough suppressant, and a cough that lasts for weeks needs a doctor.
- Active ingredient
- Acetylcysteine 600 mg
- Type of medicine
- Mucolytics
- Used for
- Cough and cold
- Starts working in
- It thins mucus over some days of use; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Effect lasts
- A few hours per dose; follow your doctor's advice on how often
- With or without food
- Follow the label or your doctor's advice; drink plenty of fluids unless told otherwise
- Alcohol
- No direct interaction is listed; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Talk to your doctor before taking it
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Mucinac 600 used for?
- How does Mucinac 600 work?
- How to take Mucinac 600
- Side effects of Mucinac 600
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Mucinac 600
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Mucinac 600 used for?
Mucinac 600 is used, on a doctor's advice, when thick, sticky mucus makes it hard to clear the chest.
- Thinning thick, sticky mucus in some chest and airway conditions, so that it is easier to cough up
How does Mucinac 600 work?
Acetylcysteine breaks the chemical links that make mucus thick and sticky. The mucus becomes thinner and easier to clear from the airways by coughing.
What happens in your body after you take it
You dissolve the tablet
The tablet is dropped into a glass of water, where it fizzes and dissolves fully. You drink it straight away.
It is absorbed
Acetylcysteine is absorbed from the gut into the blood and reaches the lungs and airways.
It breaks up the mucus links
In the airway mucus, acetylcysteine breaks the links that hold the thick mucus together.
Mucus becomes thinner
Thinner mucus moves more easily, so it is easier to cough up.
The body clears it
The body breaks the medicine down and removes it. Mucus may build up again if the underlying cause remains.
How to take Mucinac 600
Take Mucinac 600 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides how often and for how long.
- Dissolve the tablet fully in a glass of water and drink it straight away.
- Follow the label or your doctor's advice on timing and how often to take it.
- If you are also on an antibiotic, ask your doctor or pharmacist about timing; some antibiotics should be taken at least about 2 hours apart.
- Do not give it to a child unless a doctor has advised it.
- If a cough lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with fever, chest pain or breathlessness, see a doctor.
Side effects of Mucinac 600
Most people tolerate acetylcysteine well. Side effects are usually mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea or stomach upset
- Heartburn
- Headache
- Ringing in the ears
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, rash or difficulty breathing (an allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Wheeze or tightness in the chest that is new or worse
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Severe skin reactions such as blisters or peeling skin
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Mucinac 600, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to acetylcysteine or any ingredient
- Asthma or other conditions with airway tightening: it can occasionally cause bronchospasm, so use only as your doctor advises
- Present or past stomach or duodenal ulcer
- Allergy to acetylcysteine or any ingredient
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: talk to your doctor before use
- The effervescent tablet contains sodium; people on a low-salt diet or with kidney or heart conditions should check with a doctor
Medicines and things that interact with Mucinac 600
Mucinac 600 can affect how other medicines work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.
- Some antibiotics (for example certain tetracyclines and cephalosporins): take them at least about 2 hours apart from acetylcysteine
- Cough suppressants: they can stop mucus being cleared and are generally avoided with it
- Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate): the blood-pressure-lowering effect and headache may increase
If someone takes too much
Taking much more than advised can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If someone has taken a lot more than advised, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the pack with you.
Storage
Store as printed on the pack, in a dry place, keeping the tube or strip tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India. The schedule status should be confirmed on the pack. Single-ingredient acetylcysteine is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Mucinac 600 contains acetylcysteine only, so check the ingredient list on the pack.
Other brands with the same medicine
Acetylcysteine 600 mg effervescent tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Do not switch to a product with additional medicines without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Acetylcysteine is sold in other strengths and forms, such as sachets, syrups, nebuliser solutions and injections, and some products combine it with other medicines. The form and contents are printed on the pack, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
What is Mucinac 600 used for?
It is used to loosen thick, sticky mucus in some chest conditions, so it is easier to cough up. A doctor decides whether it suits you and for how long.
How do I take Mucinac 600?
Drop the tablet in a glass of water, wait until it has fully dissolved and fizzing stops, and drink it straight away. Follow the label or your doctor's advice on timing.
Can I take Mucinac with antibiotics?
Some antibiotics should be taken at least about 2 hours apart from acetylcysteine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the timing for the antibiotic you have been given.
Does Mucinac stop a cough?
No. It thins mucus so you can cough it up and is not a cough suppressant. A cough lasting more than a few weeks, or with breathlessness or chest pain, needs a doctor.
Can people with asthma take Mucinac?
Acetylcysteine can occasionally tighten the airways, so people with asthma should take it only if their doctor advises. Tell your doctor if you have asthma or new wheeze.
What is the difference between Mucinac 600 and acetylcysteine?
Mucinac is a brand name, and acetylcysteine is the medicine inside it. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching products.
Sources
- NACSYS 600 mg effervescent tablets: summary of product characteristics. electronic Medicines Compendium (UK)
- Cough. NHS (UK)
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)