E-DRUG: Need for cough mixtures (contd.)
----------------------------------------
I fully agree with Joel Lexchin that solid scientific proof that
antitussives work is lacking or very deficient. The main reason is
the lack of an appropriate clinical-pharmacological model to test
those drugs. A review by Gary Cott in a somewhat older textbook
very clearly states "The mechanisms producing cough and thus the response to an antitussive may be different for each of the
subjects. In addition, a variety of techniques have been used to gather data including subjective scoring, patient diaries, cough counting, and physiologic measurements. As a result, comparing antitussive studies can be difficult and the findings can often be inconsistent or even conflicting". A more recent review by Irwin et al. (Drugs 1993;46:80-1) is scarcely more optimistic. One item all authors agree upon is that preferably antitussives should not be
given in acute respiratory infections because (a) they do not work
and (b) they might hinder expectoration. On the other hand, a drug might be effective despite the fact that its effect is not solidly proven.
Leo Offerhaus MD PhD
Chopinstraat 9 NL-1077 GL Amsterdam The Netherlands
Tel. 0031-20-6762434 Fax 0031-20-6756590
From 11.09.97: Tel 0031-35-6923288 Fax 0031-35-6923290
E-mail LO@EURONET.NL, CompuServe 71530,15
Eur J Clin Pharmacol ONLY: POB 75552, 1070 AN Amsterdam
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.