Cough suppressants

Cough may be a symptom of an underlying disorder, such as asthma gastro-oesophageal reflux disease , or rhinitis which should be addressed before prescribing cough suppressants. Cough may be a side-effect of another drug, such as an ACE inhibitor or it can be associated with smoking or environmental pollutants. Cough can also have a significant habit component. When there is no identifiable cause, cough suppressants may be useful, for example if sleep is disturbed. They may cause sputum retention and this may be harmful in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis.Codeine may be effective but it is constipating and can cause dependence; dextromethorphan and pholcodine have fewer side-effects. Sedating antihistamines are used as the cough suppressant component of many compound cough preparations on sale to the public; all tend to cause drowsiness which may reflect their main mode of action.

Children
The use of cough suppressants containing codeine or similar opioid analgesics is not generally recommended in children and should be avoided altogether in those under 1 year of age.
Sub-sections

CODEINE PHOSPHATE
Indications
dry or painful cough; diarrhoea ,pain
Cautions
asthma; hepatic impairment; renal impairment history of drug abuse

Contra-indications
liver disease, ventilatory failure
Side-effects
constipation, respiratory depression in sensitive patients or if given large doses