From the Guidelines
Post-viral cough can be managed with a trial of inhaled ipratropium, inhaled corticosteroids, or central acting antitussive agents such as codeine and dextromethorphan.
Treatment Options
- Inhaled ipratropium may attenuate the cough, as suggested by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) evidence-based clinical practice guidelines 1
- Inhaled corticosteroids can be considered when the cough adversely affects the patient's quality of life and persists despite use of inhaled ipratropium 1
- Central acting antitussive agents such as codeine and dextromethorphan should be considered when other measures fail, due to their ability to suppress the cough reflex 1
Additional Considerations
- For severe paroxysms of postinfectious cough, a short course of prednisone (30-40 mg per day) may be prescribed when other common causes of cough have been ruled out 1
- Simple "home remedies" such as honey and lemon may provide relief for acute viral cough, although there is little evidence of a specific pharmacological effect 1
- Opiate antitussives, such as codeine, have a significant adverse side effect profile and should be used with caution 1
From the Research
Available Treatments for Post-Viral Cough
- Pharmacological treatments:
- Levodropropizine, a peripheral antitussive drug, has been shown to be effective in managing post-viral cough in children and adolescents, with an optimal safety profile 2
- A combination of a β-agonist (salbutamol) and an anticholinergic agent (ipratropium bromide) has been found to reduce post-viral cough in adults 3
- Oral corticosteroids are being investigated as a potential treatment for post-infectious cough in adults, with a ongoing randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate their effectiveness and safety 4
- Non-pharmacological remedies:
- Honey has been found to have some evidence for relieving post-viral acute cough in children 5, 6
- Other natural remedies, such as glycerol, Althea officinalis, Drosera rotundifolia, Grindelia, Hedera helix, Pelargonium sidoides, Sambucus nigra, Thymus vulgaris, and hyaluronic acid, have been suggested to have potential benefits, but further rigorous studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety 5, 6
- Saline solutions have also been mentioned as a potential non-pharmacological remedy for post-viral cough 5