Patient leaflet - Carbocisteine 250 mg / 5 ml syrup
1. What Carbocisteine syrup is and what it is used for
Carbocisteine 250mg/5ml syrup contains a medicine called carbocisteine. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘mucolytics’. It works by making mucus (phlegm) less sticky. This makes the mucus easier to cough up. Carbocisteine syrup is used for problems with the breathing passages (respiratory tract). These problems happen when too much mucus is made, or the mucus is too sticky.
2. What you need to know before you take Carbocisteine syrup
Do not take this medicine and tell your doctor if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to carbocisteine or any of the other ingredients of Carbocisteine syrup (listed in section 6). Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue
- You have an ulcer in your stomach or gut (small intestine)
Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Carbocisteine syrup.
Do not give this medicine to a child under 2 years of age.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:
- You are elderly
- You have had an ulcer in your stomach or gut
- You are taking other medicines known to cause bleeding in the stomach
Other medicines and Carbocisteine syrup
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Carbocisteine syrup is not recommended during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if:
- You are pregnant, might become pregnant or think you may be pregnant
- You are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Carbocisteine syrup will have little or no influence on your ability to drive or use machinery.
Carbocisteine syrup contains
- Ethanol: This medicine contains up to 0.019mg of alcohol per 5ml which is equivalent to 0.0004% v/v. The amount in 5ml of this medicine (contained within the aromatic elixir flavouring as an ingredient necessary for the medicine to work properly) is equivalent to approximately 0.0005ml of beer or 0.0002ml of wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.
Sodium: This medicine contains 33mg of sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 5ml. This is equivalent to 5% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult. Take this into
consideration if you are on a controlled sodium diet.
- Sucrose: This medicine contains 2g of sucrose per 5ml. This may be harmful to the teeth and should be taken into account in patients with diabetes mellitus. If you have been told by the doctor that you cannot tolerate some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate: This medicine contains methyl parahydroxybenzoate which may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed). Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash or breathing problem, swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue.
3. How to take Carbocisteine syrup
Always take Carbocisteine syrup exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
- Take this medicine by mouth.
- Carbocisteine syrup comes with a graduated oral dosing syringe.
If you feel that this medicine is too weak or too strong, do not change the dose yourself, but ask your doctor.
How much to take
Adults (including the elderly)
- Usual dose is 15ml three times each day.
- If your symptoms improve, your dose may be lowered to 10ml, three times, each day.
Children
- Give this medicine to your child by mouth.
- The amount of medicine will depend on the age of the child.
- This medicine is not indicated in children aged less than 2 years.
- Children aged 2 – 5 years: 1.25ml – 2.5ml four times a day.
- Children aged 5 – 12 years: Usual dose is 5ml three times a day.
How to use the syringe
- The measurement graduations of the syringe show you how to measure between 0.25ml (12.5mg) and 5ml (250mg).
- If the dose is more than 5ml (250mg), use the oral dosing syringe multiple times.
Step 1: The syringe end should be placed into the neck of the bottle below the liquid fill line. Step 2: To fill the syringe whilst holding the syringe in place, gently pull the plunger to draw the medicine to the correct mark on the syringe. The dose for children is given above based on age.
Step 3: Remove the syringe from the bottle neck carefully.
Step 4: Place the end of the syringe into the child’s mouth against the cheek and carefully press the plunger down slowly to gently release the medicine. After use replace the bottle cap. Wash the syringe in warm water and allow to dry. Store out of the sight and reach of children.
If you take more carbocisteine syrup than you should
If you take more carbocisteine syrup than you should, tell a doctor or go to a hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. This is so the doctor knows what you have taken. If you take too much carbocisteine syrup it is likely that you will get an upset stomach (gastrointestinal disturbance).
If you forget to use carbocisteine syrup
If you forget a dose, do not worry. Just wait until the next dose is due. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, carbocisteine syrup can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop taking carbocisteine syrup and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away if:
- You have an allergic reaction. The signs may include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue
- You have blistering or bleeding of the skin, including around your lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals. You may also have flu-like symptoms and fever. This may be something called ‘Stevens-Johnson syndrome’
- You have blood in your vomit or black tarry stools
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects get serious or lasts longer than a few days:
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
Reporting side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via: the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store carbocisteine syrup
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
After use, wipe the neck of the bottle with a clean, damp cloth. This will remove any medicine left on the bottle, so you can put the cap back on tight. If you use the oral dosing measuring syringe for carbocisteine syrup to give this medicine, make sure the measuring device is clean and dry before use.
Do not store above 30°C.
Once opened, this medicine should be used within 90 days.
Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Content of the pack and other information
What Carbocisteine syrup contains
- Each 5 ml of syrup contains 250 mg of the active substance, Carbocisteine
- The other ingredients are Sucrose, Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), Sodium hydroxide (E524) and Aromatic Elixir flavour (containing ethanol and aromatic flavourings) See section 2 for further information on ethanol, sodium, sucrose and methyl parahydroxybenzoate content.
What Carbocisteine syrup looks like and contents of the pack
Carbocisteine syrup is a clear light yellow coloured syrup liquid.
Carbocisteine syrup is available in 125ml & 300ml bottle sealed with a child-proof cap and comes with a 5ml oral dosing measuring syringe. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Key Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Galen House, 83 High Street,
Somersham, Cambridgeshire,
PE28 3JB, UK
This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This leaflet was last revised in December 2025.
Key Pharma Manufacturer
28.05.2024/ 03.06.2024/ 24.12.2025
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