Treatment of chronic, refractory cough with baclofen.
Chronic, nonproductive cough may result from enhanced sensitivity of the cough reflex. Often, this debilitating symptom is refractory to standard antitussive therapy. Baclofen, an agonist of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), has been shown, in animals, to have antitussive activity via a central mechanism. Recently, in normal subjects, we have demonstrated the ability of baclofen to inhibit capsaicin-induced cough, as well as cough due to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Herein, we describe two patients with chronic, refractory cough who obtained symptomatic improvement after a 14-day course of low-dose, oral baclofen, administered in a double-blind, placebo-controlled manner. In addition, both subjects demonstrated significant increases in cough threshold to inhaled capsaicin after treatment with baclofen.
Dicpinigaitis
P V
PV
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, Bronx, N.Y., USA.
Rauf
K
K
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002211:Capsaicin; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D018755:GABA Agonists; D001418:Baclofen; D002211:Capsaicin