Pharmacotherapy of non-productive cough: What should a therapist know?

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Abstract

Dry (non-productive) cough is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical care. Undoubtedly, to eliminate cough syndrome, it is first and foremost necessary to directly address its etiology. However, in some cases, the cause remains unclear for a long time, or an excruciating dry cough causes significant discomfort to the patient. It is worth noting that in most cases, a dry cough resolves on its own, without the need for antitussive medications. The main indications for antitussive therapy include pneumothorax, postoperative period, pertussis, a nagging cough that significantly worsens the patient's condition, and preparation for bronchoscopy performing. The most effective and safe antitussive medications currently used in clinical practice are levodropropizine, prenoxdiazine, and butamirate.

About the authors

Andrey V. Budnevsky

N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Email: budnev@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1171-2746
SPIN-code: 7381-0612

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Faculty Therapy

Russian Federation, Voronezh

Sergey N. Avdeev

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Email: serg_avdeev@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5999-2150
SPIN-code: 1645-5524

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Academician of RAS, Head of the Department of Pulmonology of N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine

Russian Federation, Moscow

Evgeny S. Ovsyannikov

N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Email: ovses@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8545-6255
SPIN-code: 7999-0433

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Faculty Therapy

Russian Federation, Voronezh

Sofya N. Feigelman

N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: s.feygelman@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4128-6044
SPIN-code: 1645-1203

MD, PhD (Medicine), Assistant at the Department of Faculty Therapy

Russian Federation, Voronezh

Yana V. Ivashkina

Voronezh City Clinical Emergency Hospital No. 1

Email: yanusik-p@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-6157-4748

MD, General Practitioner of the Department of Therapy

Russian Federation, Voronezh

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