Acepiro®
Acetylcysteine 600mg effervescent tablets
Adverse events should be reported
Reporting forms and information can be found at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Adverse events should also be reported to JensonR+ on 01271 314 320 or Stirling Anglian Pharmaceuticals on 0345 527 0680.
Information for Healthcare Professionals
Acepiro® is indicated in adults as a mucolytic agent for the treatment of respiratory tract diseases in which a reduction in bronchial secretion viscosity is required to facilitate expectoration.
Acepiro® is economical compared to other mucolytics and simple to take and effective.
Acepiro®: Simple, Effective and Economical
The most cost-effective way to prescribe a mucolytic for your patients is as the Acepiro® brand at £4.40 per pack of 30 tablets compared to the Drug Tariff of £5.501.
Prescribing Acepiro® by brand would save you 20% compared to prescribing by the approved generic name.
Also, please be reassured that there is a guarantee concerning our resilience and ability to supply Acepiro®. We have never been in an out-of-stock situation and will maintain our supply having enough Acepiro® in the UK supply chain to fulfil the whole UK acetylcysteine requirements for 12 months.
- Acepiro® is available in packs of 20 and 30 effervescent tablets.
- Just ONE tablet daily
- Each Acepiro® effervescent tablet dissolves easily in half a glass of water to form a lemon-flavoured solution which many patients find easier to take than swallowing tablets or capsules
- Reduces pill burden by 83% when compared to prescribing carbocisteine 375mg 6 capsules daily2
Reference
- NHS Drug tariff available at NHS Electronic Drug Tariff (nhsbsa.nhs.uk) Date accessed February 2025
- Carbocisteine 375mg capsules SmPc available at https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3291/smpc. Date accessed February 2025
Clinical papers and evidence base
- A quantitative systemic review by Stey et al, published in 2000 concluded that with treatment periods of about 12±24 weeks, oral N-acetylcysteine reduces the risk of exacerbations and improves symptoms in patients with chronic bronchitis compared with placebo, without increasing the risk of adverse effects. Stey C et al. The effect of oral N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchitis: a quantitative systematic review. Eur Respir J 2000; 16: 253-262
- A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2021 confirmed that N- acetylcysteine could promote the symptom improvement rate of patients with AECOPD, improve lung function in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, and enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity. Jiang C et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Palliat Med 2021;10(6):6564-6576 | https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm-21-1138
- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that clinicians consider mucolytic drug therapy for people with a chronic cough productive of sputum. Treatment should be continued if there is symptomatic improvement (for example, reduction in frequency of cough and sputum production). NICE NG115. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in over 16s: diagnosis and management. Available at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng115/chapter/Recommendations#managing-stable-copd
- Landini G. et al. Effect of High N-Acetylcysteine Concentrations on Antibiotic Activity against a Large Collection of Respiratory Pathogens Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2016;60(12) 7513-7517
Acepiro® availability
- Legal category: POM
- EU manufactured
- 3 year shelf life
- Lemon flavour
- NHS price: 30 effervescent tablets = £4.40 : 20 effervescent tablets = £3.65
- Exclusively stocked and available through Alliance Healthcare, AAH and Phoenix Medical Supplies.
Additional information
Patient information
Patient links and organisations
Professional organisations
Healthcare Professional leaflets
