Question

what are pharmacological treatment of acute cough?

Answer 1

Though acute cough can be treated by self treatment such as honey in tea , steam , avoid irritation - dust and allergens.

Pharmacological treatment of acute cough is

1) Antitussive - which suppress the cough known as cough suppressant.

Central acting antitussive are - a) opioid mechanism - codeins , pholcodeine ,levoprophoxyphene

b) Non opioid mechanism - dextromethorphan , noscapine

Peripherally acting are - a) pharyngeal demulcent b) syrup and lozences c) steam inhalation

2. Expectorant - it works by thining and loosening mucus in airway and clearing congestion. They are

Direct acting - guaiphensin and sodium citrate

Indirect acting - ipepac and ammonium salt

3. Mucolytic - it helps in thining mucus making it less thick and sticky , and thus earies to cough up. These are bromhexine , ambroxol ,acetylcysteine and methyl cysteine.

4. Antihistamines - added in antitussive and expectorant and relieve in cough by its sedative and anticholinergic actions and decrease secretion . These are - promethazine , diphenhydramine , chlorpheniramine

5. Bronchodilators - Increase bronchospams or aggravate cough. It increases surface velocity of air flow during cough , it also clears airway. Though rarely used in acute cough but can be used as pharmacological treatment of acute cough depending on patients need .

Examples are - salbutamol or terbutaline

( Mainly used drugs class are antitussive , expectorant in combination with antihistamines for acute cough treatment)

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