Objectives Sceptridium ternatum is an expectorant in traditional Chinese medicine and is prescribed for the treatment of asthma. The study aim was to screen Sceptridium ternatum for ingredients with antitussive and antiasthmatic effects and to study their associated mechanisms. Methods Cough in mice was induced using ammonia. Cough latency and the number of coughs within 3 minutes were determin...

Levodropropizine is commonly used as an antitussive drug for acute and chronic cough. It is a non-opioid agent with peripheral antitussive action via the modulation of sensory neuropeptide levels in the airways. Thus, levodropropizine has a more tolerable profile than opioid antitussives. However, we experienced 3 cases of levodropropizine-induced anaphylaxis. Three patients commonly presented ...

OBJECTIVE Pediatric cough and cold medications are widely marketed in the United States, but the precise patterns of use among children are not known. Such information is especially important given recent reports suggesting that these medications are responsible for previously underappreciated serious adverse events and deaths among children. We sought to describe the prevalence and patterns of...

A cough occurs suddenly and often repetitively which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microorganisms. Coughing can be due to a respiratory tract infection such as the common cold, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pertussis, flu and smoking or health problems such as asthma, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Substantial uses of folk remedies f...

Dextromethorphan, or DXM (aka, Orange crush, Red Devils, Triple C's, Skittles, Dex) is a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter and some prescription cough, cold, and allergy preparations, available in a variety of forms (e.g., gelcaps, syrups). DXM works directly on the brain to suppress coughing. When used according to package directions and/or as directed by a health care provider,...

OBJECTIVE Irrational pharmacotherapy is a widespread health care problem, and knowing the prescription practices of physicians at an institutional level can present solutions. This study aimed to investigate whether physicians' prescribing patterns showed differences at the level of the health care institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS Photocopies of 3201 prescriptions written at primary health ...