E-drug: Fixed dose drug combinations: Cough syrups (cont)
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Jerome Reinstein's message about the effectiveness of antitussives is not
accurate. Antitussives are tested by dripping a solution down people's
throat which causes coughing. These people are then given the antitussive to
see if it suppresses the induced cough. Under these conditions antitussives
work but when they are tested under real live conditions (e.g., in people
who have coughs due to upper respiratory tract infections) they are
ineffective. This conclusion is true for both codeine and dextromethorphan.
If people are interested I can supply references. If a cough is due to other
causes like asthma then specific treatment should be offered.
--
Joel Lexchin MD
121 Walmer Rd.
Toronto Ontario
Canada M5R2 2X8
Tel: 416-964-7186
Fax: 416-923-9515
e mail: joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca
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