Treatment of Cough PDF

TREATMENT OF COUGH  COUGH Forceful release of air from lungs Sudden, often involuntary (protective) reflex and major defensive mechanism Causes of cough : Expulsion of respiratory secretion or foreign particles or irritant or excessive mucus from a...

TREATMENT OF COUGH  COUGH Forceful release of air from lungs Sudden, often involuntary (protective) reflex and major defensive mechanism Causes of cough : Expulsion of respiratory secretion or foreign particles or irritant or excessive mucus from air passages ▪ Symptom of an underlying respiratory and/or cardiovascular pathology  Mechanism of cough Stimulation of mechano-or chemoreceptors (throat, respiratory passages or stretch receptors in lungs) Afferent impulses to cough center (medulla) Efferent impulses via parasympathetic & motor nerves to diaphragm, intercostal muscles & lung Increased contraction of diaphragmatic, abdominal & intercostal (ribs) muscles  cough Types of cough A) Acute cough =lasting8 weeks Cough may be i) Un productive (dry) cough OR ii) Productive cough (sputum) cont. Most common causes of cough ⚫ Common cold ⚫ Upper/lower respiratory tract infection ⚫ Allergic rhinitis ⚫ Smoking ⚫ Chronic bronchitis ⚫ Tuberculosis ⚫ Asthma ⚫ Gastroesophageal reflux ⚫ Pneumonia ⚫ Congestive heart failure ⚫ Use of drugs (e.g., Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) Treatment of Cough 1) Antitussives 2) Expectorants 3) Mucolytics 4) Antihistamines 5) Bronchodilators 6) Pharyngeal Demulcents 1) Antitussives (cough centre suppressants) Drugs suppress cough & produces symptomatic relief MOA Mainly suppress cough center in medulla (both central & peripheral effects) E.g., Opoid drugs (codeine, pholcodeine, noscapine, dextromethorphan) Opioid = most effective for cough i) Codeine ⚫ Codeine= prodrug  metabolized to morphine ⚫ It is an alkaloid found in Opium poppy plant ⚫ Has less addiction ⚫ resp. centre depressant ↓ ⚫ Has useful antitussive action at low doses (