Cough is a common symptom of airway and lung disease. At times it can also be a symptom of other organ system diseases such as congestive heart failure or acid reflux. Since cough is generally a symptom rather than a disease itself, the best treatment is to find and treat the underlying cause. A physician should be consulted for an ongoing cough. If the cause is known, the cough can often be suppressed with cough medicines known as antitussives.
Opioids
Opioids are medicines derived from the poppy plant. They are often used as pain relievers, such as morphine and fentanyl. Some of these medications also decrease the cough reflex by acting on the brain. Morphine and codeine are both effective for cough. A similar drug with no pain-relieving action and less addiction potential is dextromethorphan. Caution should be used with these drugs, particularly in children and the elderly, due to the risk of respiratory depression, or slowing of breathing, with overdose.
Benzonatate
Benzonatate is a drug that acts on the nerves in the lungs and airways. It is a pill taken three times per day and is thought to act by anesthetizing the nerves. More common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, upset stomach, headache and constipation. The drug typically takes about 15 minutes to begin working and lasts for three to eight hours.
Tiotropium
Tiotropium is a drug commonly used to dilate the large airways in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A 2009 article in "Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics" states that tiopropium may have an anti-cough effect that is independent of its ability to dilate the airways. The study also notes that patients with cough due to a viral upper-respiratory infection appear to benefit from tiotropium compared to placebo.
References
- "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology"; Bertram Katzung et al; 11th Ed 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony S. Fauci et al; 17th Ed 2008
- "Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics"; "Currently Available Antitussives"; Peter V. Dicpinigaitis; April 2009
