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