Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bbncc5.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!bbnccv!bbncc5!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncc5.UUCP (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: Disabling the coughing reflex Message-ID: <341@bbncc5.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 22:03:26 EDT Article-I.D.: bbncc5.341 Posted: Mon Aug 12 22:03:26 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 21:11:13 EDT References: <587@brl-tgr.ARPA> Distribution: net Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA Lines: 30 > Is there any simple and reasonable way to disable (read "switch it off > by conscious will") the coughing reflex, or, ... [Obviously an excess of catarrhal secretions...] I suppose it depends exactly how violent these coughing fits are and on how long they last to make a decision on whether any treatment is desirable or necessary. I don't know of any antitussive methods outside of drugs, though others might suggest something less invasive. Studies of drugs like codeine or dextromethorphan have a hard time separating the placebo effect from any true antitussive action, both drugs and placebos being more effective than no treatment, so there seems to be SOME way to "control" coughing without drugs. Antitussives in ordinary doses tend not to completely suppress the coughing reflex, but raise the threshold for response to an irritation. Unfortunately, unless the coughing fit lasts more than 15 minutes or so, oral antitussives probably won't have any effect, and it seems undesirable to take any kind of drug as a prophylactic against a non-life-threatening condition which occurs only rarely. I would recommend you speak with your doctor for an appropriate course of action. As an aside, dextromethorphan is contained in just about every cough syrup sold over the counter--it's an interesting drug: its "levo" isomer is a synthetic narcotic similar to codeine; the "dextro" isomer has no narcotic effect, but does show antitussive activity. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA