Ambroxol is a mucolytic — a medicine that breaks down and thins thick, sticky mucus so it is easier to cough up. It is widely used in Nigeria for chesty, productive coughs and chest congestion, and is sold as the well-known brand Mucosolvan (Sanofi) as well as a range of more affordable generics in both syrup and tablet form. It is closely related to bromhexine, another common mucolytic, and does a similar job.
In the NAFDAC register
11 registered products
from 9 registration holders
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Ambroxol in Nigeria
Those 11 products from 9 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mucosolvan | Sanofi | 15mg/5ml, 30mg/5ml | Syrup | |
 | Phillips Pharmaceuticals | 30mg/5ml (combination syrup) | Syrup | A4-3215 |
| Prescuf | Synermed | Each 5mL: ambroxol hydrochloride 30mg + levosalbutamol 1mg + guaifenesin 50mg + menthol flavor base q.s. | Syrup | B4-8125 |
| Respretol | Devon Pharmaceuticals | 15mg/5ml (combination syrup) | Syrup | A4-100231 |
Ambroxol Price in Nigeria
Ambroxol prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Ambroxol is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — genuine ambroxol products sold in Nigeria must carry a valid NAFDAC number
- 2Verify the NAFDAC number using the NAFDAC Green Book or the NAFDAC mobile app, especially for the imported brand Mucosolvan
- 3Buy from licensed pharmacies and registered patent medicine stores rather than roadside sellers
- 4Check the expiry date and that the seal, cap, and carton are intact and untampered
- 5Genuine syrup should be the expected colour and consistency with no unusual smell or separation; tablets should be uniform in appearance
- 6Be wary of unusually cheap 'imported' brands from unverified sellers, as cough and cold medicines are commonly counterfeited
Where to Buy
Buying Ambroxol by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Ambroxol on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Ambroxol in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Ambroxol in bulk, or can't find it near you?
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What is Ambroxol?
Ambroxol works by thinning the mucus in the airways and helping the tiny hair-like cells that line the airways move that mucus upwards and out. The result is a chest that feels less congested and a cough that clears phlegm more easily. Like guaifenesin, it is meant for a chesty, productive cough — one where you can feel mucus — and is not the right choice for a dry, tickly cough, which is better suited to a suppressant such as dextromethorphan.
Ambroxol is available without a prescription and is generally well tolerated. Drinking plenty of fluids helps it work by keeping mucus loose. Most coughs from a cold clear within one to two weeks; ambroxol eases the congestion while that happens. As with any cough medicine bought in Nigeria, look for a NAFDAC registration number on the pack before buying, particularly for imported brands.
What is Ambroxol used for?
In Nigeria, Ambroxol is commonly used for:
- Loosening and clearing thick mucus in a chesty, productive cough
- Easing chest congestion during colds and acute or chronic bronchitis
- Helping the airways clear sticky phlegm in respiratory conditions
- Supportive treatment alongside rest and fluids for a mucus-heavy cough
- An alternative to bromhexine for people who need a mucolytic
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For a 30mg/5ml syrup, the usual adult dose is 10ml (60mg) two to three times a day for the first few days, often reduced afterwards, or as directed on the pack. As a 30mg tablet, one tablet is usually taken three times a day. Follow the specific product's instructions, and drink plenty of water while taking it.
Children
Doses depend on age and product strength — always follow the label or a pharmacist's advice. Lower-strength (15mg/5ml) syrups are used for children in age-appropriate doses. As with all cough-and-cold medicines, use cautiously in young children and avoid giving adult-strength products to small children.
Elderly
Standard adult doses are generally suitable. Older adults with other conditions or on several medicines can check with a pharmacist before use.
Ambroxol treats the symptom, not the underlying cause. A cough that lasts more than 2-3 weeks, or comes with a high fever, breathlessness, chest pain, or blood in the phlegm, needs a doctor rather than more cough medicine. Do not combine several mucolytics or cough products at once without advice, and read combination-product labels to avoid doubling up on ingredients like paracetamol.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Mild stomach upset, nausea, or heartburn
- •Diarrhoea
- •Dry mouth or throat
- •Altered taste
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Rash, itching, or hives — possible allergic reaction
- Swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing — seek emergency care
- Severe skin reactions with blistering or peeling (very rare) — stop the medicine and seek urgent help
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your cough lasts more than 2-3 weeks, keeps returning, or comes with a high fever, breathlessness, wheezing, chest pain, or blood in the phlegm. Stop ambroxol and seek urgent care if you develop a spreading rash, blistering skin, swelling, or difficulty breathing. A persistent chesty cough — especially in a smoker or anyone with known lung disease, or with weight loss and night sweats (which can signal tuberculosis, still common in Nigeria) — should be medically assessed rather than treated indefinitely with cough medicine.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Ambroxol if you have:
- Do not use if you are allergic to ambroxol or bromhexine
- Use cautiously in people with stomach ulcers, as mucolytics may irritate the stomach lining
- Use cautiously in severe liver or kidney impairment
- Do not use to suppress a productive cough that is clearing a chest infection — ambroxol helps clear mucus, it does not stop the cough
Drug interactions
- •Combining ambroxol with a cough suppressant such as dextromethorphan is generally not advised, because suppressing the cough can trap the loosened mucus on the chest
- •Ambroxol may increase the amount of certain antibiotics that reaches lung tissue — usually a minor, sometimes helpful effect
- •Ambroxol has relatively few significant drug interactions
- •Read combination-product labels to avoid doubling up on ingredients like paracetamol
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Ambroxol is generally best avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy and used later only if clearly needed and after advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Non-drug measures such as steam inhalation, warm fluids, honey, and rest are safer first steps for a cough in pregnancy. Ambroxol may pass into breast milk in small amounts; check with a pharmacist before using it while breastfeeding.
Related Resources for Ambroxol
Guides, articles, and tools related to Ambroxol and other cough, cold & flu medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Ambroxol on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Ambroxol.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.