From the Guidelines
For post-inflammatory cough and itchy throat, the best treatment is to consider a trial of inhaled ipratropium as it may attenuate the cough, as recommended by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) evidence-based clinical practice guidelines 1. When managing post-inflammatory cough and itchy throat, it's essential to judge which factors are most likely provoking cough before considering therapy, as there are multiple pathogenetic factors that may contribute to the cause of cough, including postviral airway inflammation, upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease 1. Some key considerations for treatment include:
- Therapy with antibiotics has no role, as the cause is not bacterial infection 1
- Inhaled corticosteroids may be considered when the cough adversely affects the patient’s quality of life and when cough persists despite use of inhaled ipratropium 1
- Central acting antitussive agents such as codeine and dextromethorphan should be considered when other measures fail 1 It's also crucial to note that if cough has persisted for more than 8 weeks, consider diagnoses other than postinfectious cough 1. Additionally, for severe paroxysms of postinfectious cough, consider prescribing a short course of prednisone (30 to 40 mg per day) when other common causes of cough have been ruled out 1. Overall, the treatment approach should be individualized, taking into account the patient's specific symptoms, medical history, and response to initial therapies.
From the FDA Drug Label
Package/Label Principal Display Panel Compare to Delsym® active ingredient Dextromethorphan Polistirex Extended-Release Oral Suspension Cough Suppressant Purpose Cough suppressant
The best treatment for post-inflammatory cough is a cough suppressant.
- Dextromethorphan (PO) can be used to relieve cough symptoms, including those associated with post-inflammatory cough.
- There is no direct information in the provided drug labels about the treatment of itchy throat. 2 2
From the Research
Treatment Options for Post-Inflammatory Cough and Itchy Throat
- The treatment for post-inflammatory cough and itchy throat can vary depending on the underlying cause, but some studies suggest that a combination of medications may be effective 3.
- A study published in 2024 found that a combination of bilastine, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine syrup was efficacious and safe in treating acute dry cough due to a common cold or allergy 3.
- Another study published in 2000 found that dextromethorphan had little antitussive activity in patients with cough associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection, suggesting that other treatments may be more effective 4.
Identifying the Underlying Cause
- It is essential to identify the underlying cause of the post-inflammatory cough and itchy throat to provide effective treatment 5, 6.
- Chronic cough in adults can be caused by various factors, including upper airway cough syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, and nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis 5.
- A practical approach to diagnosis and management of cough emphasizes the importance of identifying and treating all contributing factors 6.
Treatment Approaches
- Treatment for chronic cough in adults may involve avoiding triggers, treating underlying diseases, and using symptomatic approaches such as neuromodulators and speech pathology therapy 7.
- In some cases, a combination of treatments may be necessary to effectively manage post-inflammatory cough and itchy throat 3, 7.
- Recent guidelines provide algorithms for diagnosis and assessment of cough severity, which can help guide treatment decisions 7.