ACC for children

Among the mucolytic drugs prescribed for coughing, the drug ACC, manufactured by Sandoz, is very popular. Is it possible to use it in the treatment of children and since how old is it permissible to give babies ACC? Which dosage form is better to choose for children? How to dilute a pill or granules? These and other questions about the use of such medication worry every mother if the doctor has prescribed this drug to her coughing child.

The drug ACC is represented by such forms:

1. Effervescent tablets. They are distinguished by a flat round shape, blackberry smell and white color, and the content of the active ingredient in each soluble tablet is 100 or 200 mg. Also produced tablets with 600 mg of active compound, called ACC Long. One tube includes 10-20 tablets.
2. Syrup The packaging of such an ACC is represented by a glass bottle filled with 100 ml of a clear, viscous liquid without a color with a cherry aroma. 1 ml of syrup contains 20 mg of active ingredient.
3. Packages with granules. The weight of one sachet is 3 grams, and one pack includes 20 bags, inside of which is a white, uniform granular powder. A drink made from it can have a taste of orange or lemon with honey. The content of the active component in the package is 100 mg or 200 mg.
4. Solution. Such a drug, called the ACC Inject, is represented by a clear liquid without any color poured into 3 ml ampoules. One ampoule contains 300 mg of active ingredient. One pack includes 5 ampoules.

The main ingredient of any form of ACC, which provides the therapeutic effect of the drug, is acetylcysteine. Excipients in different types of drugs differ:

• Effervescent tablets contain citric and ascorbic acid, bicarbonate, saccharinate, citrate and sodium carbonate. Milk sugar and mannitol are also present in this form, and blackberry flavoring gives a pleasant smell to the tablet and the solution prepared from it.
• Auxiliary ingredients of the powder form of ACC are sucrose and ascorbic acid. Also, this medicine contains saccharin, and the presence of flavoring makes an orange or lemon-honey drink made from granules.
• Additional substances in the syrup are represented by water, methyl parahydroxy benzoate, edetate disodium, as well as hydroxide, carmellose, benzoate and sodium saccharinate. The smell of this drug gives cherry flavor.
• In the composition of the ACC Inject solution, in addition to the active substance, there is sterile water and edetate disodium. Also, this liquid form contains ascorbic acid and sodium hydroxide.

After entering the human body, acetylcysteine ​​begins to directly affect the sputum formed in the respiratory tract. In particular, this compound changes the rheology of mucus due to the destruction of bonds in the mucopolysaccharides, which are in the bronchial secretion. This dilutes the sputum and lowers its viscosity. The effectiveness of the tool does not fall, even if pus is mixed with mucus.

Acetylcysteine ​​also has some antioxidant activity.It is noted that this substance stimulates the synthesis of glutathione, and is also capable of neutralizing the radicals formed during oxidative processes. This action ACC strengthens the protection of cells of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, and also helps to reduce the inflammatory process.

The reason for using the ACC is a disease of the organs of the respiratory system, in which a too viscous secret has accumulated inside the bronchial tree.

The drug is prescribed for:

• Laryngitis
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia.
• Laryngotracheitis.
• Chronic pulmonary pathologies, including obstructive diseases.
• Bronchiolitis.
• Bronchiectasis.
• Development in lung abscess.

ENT doctors prescribe such a drug with otitis media, rhinitis or sinusitis. Helps ACC and cystic fibrosis.

Instructions for use allows the appointment of an ACC for children who are 2 years old. For young patients between the ages of two and 5 years, a medicine called ACC 100 is intended, since the dosage of the active substance in it is the lowest. Preparations ACC 200 and ACC Inject are prescribed for children of six years and older. Medication with a maximum dosage of acetylcysteine ​​(ACC Long) recommended from the age of 14.

Annotation to the ACC drugs prohibits their use in such cases:

• If a child has an intolerance to some component of the drug, for example, acetylcysteine ​​or lactose, which is in the composition of the tablets.
• If the lung disease is complicated by bleeding and traces of blood are found in the sputum.
• If the patient has peptic ulcer.
• If the child suffers from a lack of certain enzymes (lactase, sucrase) or impaired carbohydrate metabolism.

Like many other medicines, ACC can cause allergies. From the reception of such a drug may cause hives, swelling of the skin, itching, rashes and even anaphylactic shock.

Other side effects of ACC are:

• Shortness of breath or the appearance of bronchospasm. This reaction of the child's body to acetylcysteine ​​is often found in bronchial asthma. If your child has a cough after taking ACC, you should immediately consult a doctor.
• Heartburn, diarrhea, stomach discomfort and other symptoms that are called dyspepsia.
• Increased body temperature, pain in the head, noises in the ear, bleeding. Such negative effects of treatment of ACC are very rare.

• Use of ACC is recommended after meals.
• Effervescent pill in the right dose should be dipped in a glass of water, wait for dissolution, then offer medicine to the child. To dissolve use only water and glassware.
• The contents of the portion bags of the ACC are dissolved in half a glass of liquid. In this case, the granules can be diluted with water, or with another drink, for example, juice or cooled tea.
• It is undesirable to leave the suspension prepared from the tablet or ACC powder for a long time. If it is not possible to drink the treatment solution immediately, storage at room temperature for a maximum of two hours is acceptable.
• For the dosage of syrup, it is advised to use a measuring cup or syringe that is placed in the medicine package.
• The last intake of ACC should not be later than 18 hours, since a later application may adversely affect sleep.
• To the therapeutic effect of the drug came faster, it is recommended the additional use of a large volume of fluid.
• How many days to take the medicine, the doctor decides for each child individually. In acute illness, the duration of use most often is 5-7 days.
• Injections ACC do in the hospital 1-2 times a day. The drug is injected either deep into the muscle, or slowly into the vein (within 5 minutes), mixing the contents of the ampoule with saline or with glucose in a 1: 1 ratio.

The daily dose of the ACC, regardless of the form of release for a child of different age, will be as follows:

This dose is divided into 2 doses for children under the age of 14, and a child over 14 years of age can be given the drug either once a day or divided into 2-3 doses.

A single dose of various forms of ACC for a child older than 2 years to 6 years of age is usually 100 mg of acetylcysteine.

A child of this age is prescribed one of these drugs:

A single dose for children older than 6 years to 14 years old will be 150-200 mg of acetylcysteine. Often the agent is discharged at a dosage of 200 mg per dose.

Depending on the form of the ACC, this will be the amount of the drug:

At the age of 14 years and older, the daily dose of ACC may be:

A single dosage of the ACC injection form is half an ampoule for children 6-14 years old and a whole ampoule for a child over 14 years old. In the presence of vital indications, it is permissible to administer the drug to children under 6 years of age at a dosage of 10 mg of active substance per kg of baby weight.

The solution of the ACC in ampoules can also be used for inhalation in a nebulizer. For one procedure, take 3 ml of medication and mix with 3 ml of saline. Such manipulation is allowed when coughing in children over 12 years old.

• Mixing in one glass of ACC and any other drugs is not recommended.
• The use of sorbents, such as activated carbon, will reduce the effectiveness of acetylcysteine ​​treatment.
• It is categorically impossible to give children ACC and drugs that suppress the cough reflex. Such a combination of drugs can cause stagnation of mucus in the airways.
• If you combine ACC and drugs from the group of bronchodilators, the treatment of cough will be more effective.
• Acetylcysteine ​​can worsen the effect of antibiotic therapy if you are using cephalosporins or penicillin drugs, and therefore between these drugs should take a break of 2 hours or more.
• The simultaneous appointment of the ACC and vasodilating drugs leads to a greater expansion of blood vessels.

To purchase any form of ACC, except for injection, you do not need to present a prescription. To purchase an ACC Inject, you need a prescription from a doctor.

On average, the cost of a pack of 20 tablets of ACC 100 or one bottle of syrup is about 240 rubles. The price of ATsTs in bags is about 120-130 rubles per pack. For ten pills ACC Long need to pay about 300 rubles.

Keep vials, granules or tablets should be in a dry place with no access for a small child. Storage temperature should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius. Removing the pill from the tube, the package must be immediately tightly closed.

The shelf life of the drug, depending on the form is:

• For pills - 3 years.
• For packages with granules - 4 years.
• For syrup - 2 years (not opened).
• For ampoules with a solution - 3 years.

When the ACC syrup bottle is opened, the medicine should be stored for no longer than 18 days.

On the use of ACC with a wet cough in children there are mostly positive reviews. Moms confirm that the drug very effectively dilutes a very viscous secret and helps cough up, thus speeding up recovery. The side effects of the ACC are rarely noted, and most children find the taste of the finished medication pleasant.

Replace ACC is capable of any analogue, which also contains acetylcysteine. Such a drug can be Fluimucil, N-AC-Ratiopharm, Acetylcysteine ​​or Acetin. With a cold, you can use the drug Rinofluimucil, which also includes acetylcysteine. The drug is released in the form of a spray, which is convenient to introduce the drug into the nose.

Also, instead of the ACC, the doctor may recommend a remedy with a similar effect, which is equally effective in treating cough, for example:

• Lasolvan. The active ingredient of this expectorant is ambroxol. The advantages of Lasolvan are a large variety of dosage forms and the possibility of use from birth.
• Erespal. The basis of this drug is fenspirid, which has an antihistamine effect. Reception of Erespala removes bronchospasm and helps in the fight against inflammation, so this medicine is in demand for dry and barking cough. In syrup, it is discharged from the age of two, and in tablets - no earlier than 18 years.
• Fluditec. This mucolytic contains carbocysteine ​​and is available in a syrup with two dosages. A smaller one (20mg / ml) allows using the medicine from 2 years of age, and a large one (50mg / ml) is allowed from 15 years.
• Gedelix Such a remedy with a plant base has an expectorant effect. The drug is produced from ivy leaves in syrup and drops. It can be given to children who are 2 years old.
• Mukaltin. This expectorant pill is prescribed to children older than a year.
• Ascoril. Such a multi-ingredient preparation contains salbutamol and bromhexinewhich are supplemented with guaifenesin. His intake dilutes the secret of the bronchi and has an expectorant effect. This medicine in syrup is prescribed to children from 1 year, and the tablet form - from six years.