title: N-acetylcysteine by metered dose inhaler in the treatment of chronic bronchitis: a multi-centre study.
abstract: Sixty-five patients with chronic bronchitis were studied at five different centres in a double-blind, randomized trial. Two parallel groups were treated with either N-acetylcysteine or placebo by metered dose inhalers for 16 weeks. Following a 1-week run-in period, each patient recorded subjective impressions of the drug action on their bronchitic symptoms in a diary once a week. In addition, exacerbations were registered. Lung function testing and adverse effects were evaluated by four visits to the chest clinics during the 16 weeks. We could not demonstrate that N-acetylcysteine by metered dose inhalers had any significant effect on patients' feeling of well-being, sensation of dyspnoea, intensity of coughing, mucus production, or expectoration or lung function. Its effect in reducing exacerbations could not be estimated because of a very low number of exacerbations reported. N-acetylcysteine inhalation was safe when used over a 16-week period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dueholm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorshauge
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evald
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maltbaek
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000111:Acetylcysteine