A randomized controlled trial of oral albuterol in acute cough.
BACKGROUND
Beta-agonist agents have been used for bronchospasm and cough in a variety of settings. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of oral albuterol for acute cough in ambulatory adults.


METHODS
We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial comparing albuterol 4 mg by mouth three times daily for 7 days with placebo in 104 adults. Subjects had cough of less than 4 weeks' duration and no evidence of pneumonia, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All subjects were enrolled at the walk-in clinic of a rural academic medical center.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between treated and control subjects in any measure of efficacy including cough severity score, reduction in sleepless nights, utilization of health care, or return to full activity. There were significantly more reports of "shakiness" and "nervousness" among albuterol-treated subjects than among controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral albuterol should not be used in unselected patients with acute, nonspecific cough.
Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
B
B
Littenberg
M
M
Wheeler
D S
DS
Smith
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D000420:Albuterol