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Medications for Bronchitis

Bronchitis is a type of infection that affects your lungs. It causes inflammation in the lining of your bronchial tubes - these are the tubes that carry air from your trachea (windpipe) into your lungs. Bronchitis is most often caused by viruses, usually the same ones that cause a cold or the flu, although sometimes bacteria are to blame.

Some people are more prone to getting bronchitis than others. People at higher risk include those who:

  • Smoke
  • Have a weak immune system
  • Have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Work around airborne irritants such as chemical fumes or dust
  • Live in cities or areas with high amounts of air pollution
  • Are not vaccinated against the flu (the flu can lead to bronchitis).

Symptoms of Bronchitis

Symptoms of bronchitis can vary from mild to severe but usually include:

  • A nagging productive cough that persists for several days to weeks
  • Increased mucus production from the lungs. This is thicker than normal and may be discolored (yellowish-grey, green, rarely blood-streaked)
  • Fatigue
  • Chest tightness or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath.

Bronchitis is not usually accompanied by a fever. If you have a fever, you may have pneumonia or the flu instead. Bronchitis can develop into pneumonia in some people.

Bronchitis may be described as acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis usually follows a cold or the flu and symptoms usually get better within a week although you may be left with a cough that lingers for several weeks. If your cough lasts for at least three months and you get recurring bouts of bronchitis over a period of two years it is referred to as chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is often due to smoking and is one of the conditions included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Diagnosis of Bronchitis

See a doctor if your cough lasts more than three weeks, is accompanied by a fever, is blood-tinged, or associated with wheezing or shortness of breath.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and listen to your lungs as you breathe with a stethoscope. A chest X-ray, sputum tests, or pulmonary function tests may also be conducted to help with the diagnosis.

Treatment of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is most often caused by viruses, so antibiotics will not help treat the condition. Most cases of acute bronchitis get better by themselves without treatment within a couple of weeks.

Cough medications may help with sleep at night and people with other conditions (such as asthma or COPD) may benefit from bronchodilators and corticosteroids to open up their airways and reduce inflammation.

People with chronic bronchitis may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation – this is where a respiratory therapist teaches you exercises to help you breathe more easily and increase your ability to partake in physical activity.

Nonpharmacological treatments can also help you feel better, such as:

  • Warm lemon and honey drinks
  • Humidifiers – these produce warm moist air which loosens mucus in the airway allowing you to cough it up easier
  • Wearing a mask or a buff over your mouth outside if you are exposed to cold air, smoke, fumes, or other pollutants.

Drugs used to treat Bronchitis

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
cefixime 1.0 1 review for cefixime to treat Bronchitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
cefixime systemic
Brand name:
Suprax
Drug class:
third generation cephalosporins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
moxifloxacin 6.1 31 reviews for moxifloxacin to treat Bronchitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
moxifloxacin systemic
Brand names:
Avelox, Avelox I.V.
Drug class:
quinolones and fluoroquinolones
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Mucinex Maximum Strength 7.0 2 reviews for Mucinex Maximum Strength to treat Bronchitis
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Vibramycin 1.0 1 review for Vibramycin to treat Bronchitis
Rx D N X
Generic name:
doxycycline systemic
Drug class:
tetracyclines, miscellaneous antimalarials
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Septra DS Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim systemic
Drug class:
sulfonamides
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Cipro I.V. Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
ciprofloxacin systemic
Drug class:
quinolones and fluoroquinolones
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Cipro XR Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
ciprofloxacin systemic
Drug class:
quinolones and fluoroquinolones
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Doryx Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
doxycycline systemic
Drug class:
tetracyclines, miscellaneous antimalarials
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Doryx MPC Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
doxycycline systemic
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Monodox Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
doxycycline systemic
Drug class:
tetracyclines, miscellaneous antimalarials
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Oraxyl Rate Add review
Rx D N X
Generic name:
doxycycline systemic
Drug class:
tetracyclines, miscellaneous antimalarials
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Robafen 9.0 1 review for Robafen to treat Bronchitis
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
Septra 8.0 1 review for Septra to treat Bronchitis
Rx D N X
Generic name:
sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim systemic
Drug class:
sulfonamides
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Altarussin Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
Augmentin XR Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
amoxicillin / clavulanate systemic
Drug class:
beta-lactamase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
Biaxin XL 7.0 4 reviews for Biaxin XL to treat Bronchitis
Rx C N
Generic name:
clarithromycin systemic
Drug class:
macrolides
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
cefpodoxime 1.5 2 reviews for cefpodoxime to treat Bronchitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
cefpodoxime systemic
Drug class:
third generation cephalosporins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
cefprozil 5.8 4 reviews for cefprozil to treat Bronchitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
cefprozil systemic
Brand name:
Cefzil
Drug class:
second generation cephalosporins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Guaifenex G Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
ofloxacin Rate Add review
Rx C N
Generic name:
ofloxacin systemic
Drug class:
quinolones and fluoroquinolones
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Suprax 1.0 1 review for Suprax to treat Bronchitis
Rx B N
Generic name:
cefixime systemic
Drug class:
third generation cephalosporins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information
tetracycline 5.0 2 reviews for tetracycline to treat Bronchitis
Rx D N
Generic name:
tetracycline systemic
Brand names:
Achromycin V, Ala-Tet, Brodspec
Drug class:
tetracyclines
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Tussin Expectorant Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
Amibid LA Rate Add review
Rx/OTC C N
Generic name:
guaifenesin systemic
Drug class:
expectorants
For consumers:
dosage, side effects
Amoclan Rate Add review
Rx B N
Generic name:
amoxicillin / clavulanate systemic
Drug class:
beta-lactamase inhibitors
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

View more FAQ

Alternative treatments for Bronchitis

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Bronchitis. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Bronchitis.

Learn more about Bronchitis

Medicine.com guides (external)

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.