As a mucolytic in the management of viscid mucoid secretions associated with bronchitis, bronchiectasis, sinusitis.

Oral.
Adults and children over 12 years:2 × 5 ml three times daily to 3 × 5 ml four times daily.
Children 5 - 12 years: 1 × 5 ml four times daily.
Children 2 - 5 years: 1 × 5 ml twice daily.
RIAXINE Oral Solution is sugar free and therefore suitable for diabetics.

Bromhexine should be used with caution in patients with a history of, or existing, peptic ulceration.
There have been reports of severe skin reactions such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/ toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) associated with the administration of bromhexine hydrochloride. If symptoms or signs of a progressive skin rash (sometimes associated with blisters or mucosal lesions) are present, bromhexine hydrochloride treatment should be discontinued immediately and medical advice should be sought.

RIAXINE can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way RIAXINE works.
As Antibiotics such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin or oxytetracycline.

Pregnancy
There are limited data from the use of bromhexine in pregnant women.
Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of RIAXINE during pregnancy.

Lactation
It is unknown whether bromhexine/metabolites are excreted in human milk.
Available pharmacodynamic/toxicological data in animals have shown excretion of bromhexine/metabolites in breast milk. A risk to the breastfed infant cannot be excluded.
RIAXINE should not be used during breast-feeding.

Fertility
No studies on the effect on human fertility have been conducted with RIAXINE.
Based on available pre-clinical experience there are no indications for possible effects of the use of bromhexine on fertility.

No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed with RIAXINE.

The following side effects have been reported based on clinical trials involving 3,992 patients
Frequencies
Very common ≥1/10
Common ≥ 1/100 < 1/10
Uncommon ≥ 1/1,000 < 1/100
Rare ≥ 1/10,000 < 1/1,000
Very rare < 1/10,000
Not known cannot be estimated from the available data

Immune system disorders
Hypersensitivity reactions Rare
Anaphylactic reactions including
anaphylactic shock*, angioedema* and pruritus* Not known

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Bronchospasm* Not known

Gastro-intestinal disorders
Abdominal pain upper Uncommon
Nausea Uncommon
Vomiting Uncommon
Diarrhoea Uncommon

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash Rare
Urticaria* Rare
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (including erythema multiforme, Not Known Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis and acut generalized exanthematous pustulosis)
*This adverse reaction has been observed in post-marketing experience. With 95 % certainty, the frequency category is not greater than rare (3/3,992), but might be lower. A precise frequency estimation is not possible as the adverse drug reaction did not occur in a clinical trial database of 3,992 patients.

To report any side effects
- National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Center (NPC)
o Fax: +966-11-205-7662
o To call the executive management of vigilance and crisis management: +966-11-2038222 ext.: 2353 – 2356 – 2317 – 2354 – 2334 – 2340
o Toll-free: 8002490000
o E-mail: npc.drug@sfda.gov.sa
o Website: www.sfda.gov.sa/npc

No specific overdose symptoms have been reported in man to date. Based on accidental overdose and/or medication error reports the observed symptoms are consistent with the known side effects of Riaxine at recommended doses and may need symptomatic treatment.

Bromhexine is a synthetic derivative of the herbal active ingredient vasicine. Preclinically, it has been shown to increase the proportion of serous bronchial secretion. Bromhexine enhances mucus transport by reducing mucus viscosity and by activating the ciliated epithelium (mucociliary clearance).
In clinical studies, bromhexine showed a secretolytic and secretomotor effect in the bronchial tract area, which facilitates expectoration and eases cough.
Following the administration of bromhexine antibiotic concentrations (amoxycillin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline) in the sputum and bronchopulmonary secretions are increased.

Absorption
Bromhexine is rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
After oral administration solid and liquid formulations show similar bioavailability. The absolute bioavailability of bromhexine hydrochloride was about 22.2 ± 8.5 % and 26.8 ± 13.1 % for RIAXINE® tablets and solution, respectively. The first pass metabolism amounts to about 75-80%. Concomitant food leads to an increase of bromhexine plasma concentrations.

Distribution
After intravenous administration bromhexine was rapidly and widely distributed throughout the body with a mean volume of distribution (Vss) of up to 1209 ± 206 L (19 L/kg). The distribution into lung tissue (bronchial and parenchymal) was investigated after oral administration of 32 mg and 64 mg bromhexine. Lung tissue concentrations two hours post dose 1.5 -4.5 times higher in bronchiolo-bronchial tissues and between 2.4 and 5.9 times higher in pulmonary parenchyma compared to plasma concentrations. Unchanged bromhexine is bound to plasma proteins by 95 % (non-restrictive binding).

Metabolism
Bromhexine is almost completely metabolised to a variety of hydroxylated metabolites and to dibromanthranilic acid. All metabolites and bromhexine itself are conjugated most probably in form of N-glucuronides and Oglucuronides. There are no substantial hints for a change of the metabolic pattern by a sulphonamide or oxytetracyclin. There is insufficient pharmacokinetic data to evaluate a possible drug-drug interaction between bromhexine and erythromycin.

Elimination
Bromhexine is a high extraction ratio drug after i.v. administration in the range of the hepatic blood flow, 843-1073 mL/min resulting in high inter- and intraindividual variability (CV > 30 %) After administration ofradiolabelled bromhexine about 97.4 ± 1.9 % of the dose were recovered as radioactivity in urine, with less than 1% as parent compound.
Bromhexine plasma concentrations showed a multiexponential decline. After administration of single oral doses between 8 and 32 mg, the terminal elimination half-life ranged between 6.6 and 31.4 hours. The relevant halflife to predict the multiple dose pharmacokinetics is about 1 hour, thus no accumulation was seen after multiple dosing (accumulation factor 1.1).

General
Bromhexine shows dose proportional pharmacokinetics in the range of 8-32 mg following oral administration.
There are no data for bromhexine pharmacokinetics in the elderly or in patients with renal or liver insufficiency.
Bromhexine pharmacokinetics are not relevantly affected by co-administration of ampicillin or oxytetracycline.
Interaction studies with oral anticoagulants or digoxin were not performed.

No details on schedule

Sorbitol solution 70% non-cryst.
Glycerol
Methyl Hydroxybenzoate
Propyl Hydroxybenzoate,
Ethanol 96%
Sodium Hydroxide
Citric Acid Monohydrate
Cherry Flavour (73566-H)
Purified water

Not applicable

Store below 30° C.
Protect from Light
Keep tightly closed

100 ml amber coloured glass bottles with child resistance cap.

Keep out of reach & sight of children
No special requirements.