The Midlands Therapeutics Review and Advisory Committee (MTRAC) has reviewed the evidence on erdosteine (Edotin) in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. The Committee concluded that erdosteine is not currently considered to be suitable for prescribing in primary care, on the basis that the published evidence for efficacy in its licensed indication is weak, with no evidence for improved clinical outcomes or quality of life.

Erdosteine is a mucolytic agent licensed for short-term (up to ten days) symptomatic treatment of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in adults. While eight randomised controlled trials of erdosteine were located, only three of these covered its licensed indication and one of these included only 28 participants. Chronic bronchitis is a major contributing condition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): NICE guidance on COPD does not include use of mucolytics for acute exacerbations, although they are recommended for long-term use in stable disease.