Abuse of antitussive preparations is a continuing problem in the United States and throughout the world. Illicit, exploratory, or recreational use of dextromethorphan and codeine/promethazine cough syrups is widely described. This review describes the pharmacology, clinical effects, and management of toxicity from commonly abused antitussive formulations.

We have previously shown that the caudal nucleus tractus solitarii is a site of action of some antitussive drugs and that the caudal ventral respiratory group (cVRG) region has a crucial role in determining both the expiratory and inspiratory components of the cough motor pattern. These findings led us to suggest that the cVRG region, and possibly other neural substrates involved in cough regul...

BACKGROUND When the etiology of a patient's chronic cough is established, specific antitussive therapy that is aimed at a particular cause of cough is highly effective. Nevertheless, in certain situations, therapy with cough suppressants, which previously were classified as nonspecific antitussive therapy, and which aim at suppressing the cough reflex regardless of the cause of cough, will be n...

Cough is an indispensable defensive reflex. Although generally beneficial, cough is also a common symptom of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Cough remains a major unmet medical need and, although the centrally acting opioids have remained the antitussive drug of choice for decades, such opioids possess many unwanted side-effects. However, n...

Cough continues to be one of the top reasons why patients seek medical attention from health care providers. The prescription antitussive market is dominated by opioids, such as codeine that produces inconsistent efficacy and is often accompanied by significant side effect liabilities. Consequently, cough represents an unmet medical need and an underserved market. Yet, against the backdrop of i...