From the Guidelines
Ascoril, which contains theophylline, should be used with caution in patients with COPD due to its potential to reduce acute exacerbations, but with a higher risk of GI side effects, as evidenced by a pooled analysis of two studies showing a moderate-quality effect estimate of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.47-1.47) 1. Ascoril is a combination medication used to treat respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and COPD, and its effectiveness in preventing acute exacerbations of COPD is supported by moderate-quality evidence from studies such as Rossi et al and Zhou et al 1. Theophylline, a key component of Ascoril, has been shown to improve lung function when added to long-acting β-agonists and may reverse corticosteroid resistance in patients with COPD 1. However, the use of theophylline is also associated with a higher risk of GI side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux, which can lead to a significant withdrawal rate, as seen in the study by Rossi et al where 27% of patients withdrew from the study due to GI side effects 1. Key points to consider when using Ascoril include:
- The potential benefits of reducing acute exacerbations of COPD
- The higher risk of GI side effects associated with theophylline
- The importance of monitoring patients for adverse effects and adjusting treatment accordingly
- The need for careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of using Ascoril in patients with COPD, particularly in those with a history of GI problems or other comorbidities.
From the Research
Ascoril Efficacy and Safety
- Ascoril has been found to be effective in controlling cough, breathlessness, and decreasing the volume of sputum in patients with lower respiratory tract infection and COPDs 2.
- A study comparing Ascoril with another cough formula found that Ascoril had better efficacy and patient acceptability in the management of cough associated with respiratory disorders 3.
- Ascoril was also found to be effective in treating productive cough associated with acute viral respiratory infection, with better dynamics of certain indicators of quality of life compared to lasolvan 4.
Ascoril and Ambroxol
- Ambroxol, a mucoactive agent, has been used to treat both acute and chronic respiratory diseases, and has been found to be efficacious and well-tolerated in children 5.
- Mucolytic agents such as Ambroxol and N-acetylcysteine have been found to be useful in adjunctive therapy of respiratory tract disorders, with a synergism between mucolytics and antibiotics in the treatment of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis 6.