Oral bromhexine has no effect on tear and lysosyme secretion in healthy subjects.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether bromhexine (Solvex®) affects the rate of tear secretion or the concentration of lysosyme in the tear fluid in healthy subjects. The rate of tear secretion and lysosyme concentration in tear fluid were estimated in 56 healthy volunteers before and after 3 weeks of oral administration of placebo (tablets of vitamin C, 200 mg per day) followed by bromhexine tablets, 32 mg per day. Shirmer's test I was performed to evaluate the tear secretion, and the lysosyme plate method was used to detect lysosyme concentration. Shirmer's test showed similar results before and after placebo and bromhexine administration. In conclusion, oral bromhexine was found to have no effect on the rate of tear secretion, nor on the concentration of lysosyme in the tear fluid of healthy subjects.