Drugs Against Cough

DRUGS AGAINST COUGH

Introduction to cough:

• Types:
  • Productive (with expectoration)
  • Non-productive (dry cough).
• Dry cough – Suppressed by anti-tussive agent.
• Productive cough – Suppressed by expectorants.

I) EXPECTORANTS:

• MOA: By increasing bronchial secretions/by reducing its viscosity.
• Drugs: Potassium iodide, Bromhexine & Ambroxol.

Individual drugs:

1. Potassium iodide:

MOA:

• Direct action – By irritating bronchial glands.
• Indirect action – By gastric irritation increasing bronchial secretions.

Drug effects:

• Interferes with thyroid function tests.
  • On prolonged use – Cause hypothyroidism.
• Cause acne flare-up in adolescents.

Contraindications:

• In pregnancy – Risk of fetal hypothyroidism.
• In iodine- sensitive patients.

2. Bromhexine:

• Causes mucopolysaccharides depolymerization —> Resulting mucolysis (less viscid mucus).

3. Ambroxol:

• Metabolite of bromhexine.
• Also a mucolytic drug.

II) ANTITUSSIVE DRUGS:

• Should be used only for dry (non-productive) cough.

MOA:

• Suppresses cough by,
  • Direct action on CNS.
  • Indirect action by inhibiting cough impulses in respiratory tract.

Drugs:

• Codeine, pholcodine, noscapine & dextromethorphan.

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