Combination cough and cold medicine (expectorant, antihistamine, and mucolytic)
Last reviewed July 2026
Who is this for?
This is a combination cough and cold medicine that works in several ways: bromhexine loosens thick mucus in your chest, diphenhydramine stops allergic reactions and reduces coughing, ammonium chloride helps bring out phlegm, sodium citrate soothes your throat, and menthol gives a cooling feeling that eases breathing.
Reduces mucus viscosity through proteolytic degradation of mucopolysaccharides (bromhexine), blocks H1 histamine receptors to suppress allergic responses and congestion (diphenhydramine), and increases respiratory secretions via ammonium chloride and sodium citrate to facilitate mucus clearance, while menthol provides topical cooling and decongestant effects on respiratory mucosa.
Available Over The Counter
Get this from any pharmacy or chemist: no prescription needed.
Explore this drug
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed one and continue your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for it.
This medicine makes you drowsy, so do not drive, ride okada, or operate heavy machines after taking it. Buy only from licensed pharmacies, not roadside sellers, to avoid fake products. If your cough does not improve after 5–7 days or you start coughing blood, see a doctor, as it could be something more serious like tuberculosis (TB) that needs proper testing.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine as it will make the drowsiness much worse and can be dangerous. Do not combine with other cough or cold medicines that also contain antihistamines (like chlorpheniramine or promethazine) to avoid overdose. If you are taking sedatives, sleeping pills, or medicines for anxiety or depression, talk to your pharmacist first as this medicine can increase their effects.
Check your specific combination
Is it safe to take Bromhexine; with your other drugs?
This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so consult your doctor before using it if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing a baby.
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat, as Nigerian weather can be very hot, so avoid leaving it in your car or near a window. Keep the bottle tightly closed and always store out of reach of children.
For information only: not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication.
Names this drug is sold under, especially in Nigerian and West African pharmacies
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Counterfeit Drug Warning
Fake drugs are a serious problem in Nigeria. Always buy from a registered pharmacy. If the packaging looks different from what is described above, do not use it.