title: [Drug therapy for cough].
abstract: An efficient therapy for cough usually requires identification and treatment of the underlying disease, like asthma. However an underlying disease in cough is not found in all cases and conventional treatment of the underlying disease is ineffective against cough. Drug therapy options are available also for these situations. Honey or menthol can be tried for cough associated with respitatory infections, antihistamines for cough associated with allergic rhinitis, blockers of the leukotriene receptor or muscarinic receptor for asthma-associated cough and morphine for cough associated with a malignant disease. Menthol, blockers of the muscarinic receptor, or dextrometorphan can be tried for prolonged idiopathic cough. Codeine is not necessary in the treatment of cough. Refraining from drug treatment should always be considered.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: Toivo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naaranlahti
mesh_terms: D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008610:Menthol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D008610:Menthol; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D003061:Codeine