Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

1.8K
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
1.8K
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:16

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview

1.0K
Upper respiratory tract disorders, including viral infections and allergic rhinitis, cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life. Managing these conditions involves a variety of drugs, such as antihistamines, intranasal steroids, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics. Specific examples of drugs in each category are provided.
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
1.0K
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:17

Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview

1.6K
Lower respiratory tract disorders present challenges that often require skilled and nuanced approaches for effective management. Common ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have prompted the development of intricate treatment strategies involving bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, each tailored to ease breathing and revitalize the lungs.
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
1.6K
Antiasthma Drugs: Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists01:20

Antiasthma Drugs: Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists

2.1K
Muscarinic receptor antagonists, also known as antimuscarinic agents, are a class of bronchodilators used to treat asthma, although they are more commonly used to treat COPD. They work by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter, on muscarinic receptors found in the airways.
Antimuscarinic agents compete with ACh for the same binding site on the muscarinic receptors. By binding to these receptors, they inhibit the downstream effects of ACh and block the parasympathetic...
2.1K
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

1.2K
Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
1.2K
Inhaled Medications01:23

Inhaled Medications

1.1K
Inhaled medications are crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are essential for effective treatment and control, ensuring optimal respiratory health and well-being. Inhaled medication delivers drugs directly to the lungs, providing a rapid onset of action and reducing systemic side effects compared to oral or injectable medications. Three primary types of inhalation devices are used to administer these medications: nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spinal Cord Supports in Caecilian Vertebrae and Their Significance for Amphibian Systematics.

Journal of morphology·2026
Same author

Thrombolysis for pulmonary embolism: A network meta-analysis.

Journal of the Intensive Care Society·2026
Same author

Prospective Multi-Centre Photopatch Test Study of Photoallergy to Sunscreens and NSAIDs in Europe.

The British journal of dermatology·2026
Same author

Clarifying Xenacoelomorpha phylogeny: A polarized quartet-based analysis with SeaLion.

Gene·2026
Same author

Bayesian Inference Framework to Identify Skin Material Properties in vivo From Active Membranes.

Journal of biomechanical engineering·2026
Same author

Encouraging direct discharges home from Critical Care.

Journal of the Intensive Care Society·2026
Same journal

Interventions to prevent or cease electronic cigarette use in children and adolescents.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Drugs to improve anaemia, quality of life, and physical function in people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Interventions for smoking cessation in inpatient psychiatry settings.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for preventing intradialytic hypotension in people undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Prognostic models for predicting intensive care unit admission or mortality in critically ill adults not yet been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Views and experiences of weight management for people living with mobility‑limiting conditions, intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer
08:47

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer

Published on: April 21, 2022

3.1K

Mucolytics for bronchiectasis.

Mark Wilkinson1, Karnam Sugumar, Stephen J Milan

  • 1University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, UK.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review found limited evidence for mucolytics in bronchiectasis. Recombinant human DNase should be avoided, while bromhexine and erdosteine show potential but require more research.

More Related Videos

The WinCF Model - An Inexpensive and Tractable Microcosm of a Mucus Plugged Bronchiole to Study the Microbiology of Lung Infections
06:57

The WinCF Model - An Inexpensive and Tractable Microcosm of a Mucus Plugged Bronchiole to Study the Microbiology of Lung Infections

Published on: May 8, 2017

7.7K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment
03:25

Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment

Published on: December 27, 2024

1.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer
08:47

Rapid Viscoelastic Characterization of Airway Mucus Using a Benchtop Rheometer

Published on: April 21, 2022

3.1K
The WinCF Model - An Inexpensive and Tractable Microcosm of a Mucus Plugged Bronchiole to Study the Microbiology of Lung Infections
06:57

The WinCF Model - An Inexpensive and Tractable Microcosm of a Mucus Plugged Bronchiole to Study the Microbiology of Lung Infections

Published on: May 8, 2017

7.7K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment
03:25

Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases — Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment

Published on: December 27, 2024

1.8K

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bronchiectasis is irreversible airway dilation often leading to mucus retention and infection.
  • Mucolytic agents aim to improve mucus clearance in patients with bronchiectasis.
  • Current management often includes chest physiotherapy and mucolytics, but evidence is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of ingested or inhaled mucolytics for treating bronchiectasis.
  • To assess the safety and effectiveness of various mucolytic drugs in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through comprehensive database searches and expert consultation.
  • Searches were conducted up to June 2013.
  • Included RCTs focused on mucolytic treatment in bronchiectasis, excluding cystic fibrosis patients.

Main Results:

  • Four trials with 528 participants were included; meta-analysis was largely not feasible.
  • High-dose bromhexine with antibiotics showed low-quality evidence for improved sputum expectoration and reduced production.
  • Erdosteine combined with physiotherapy showed low-quality evidence for improved spirometry and sputum purulence in older adults.
  • Recombinant human DNase showed no benefit and potentially harmful effects on lung function in one trial, with low-quality evidence.

Conclusions:

  • Recombinant human DNase should be avoided in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis due to lack of benefit and potential harm.
  • Insufficient evidence exists for routine use of other mucolytics; bromhexine and erdosteine may offer benefits but require further robust, long-term trials.
  • More clinical trials, especially in children, are needed to establish the efficacy of mucolytic agents in bronchiectasis.