Promised relief from cough medicines can be elusive

Buying standard cough medicines may be a waste of money say British researchers.

After reviewing the results of 15 trials of over-the-counter remedies, scientists at the University of Bristol said the treatments were no better than a placebo, or dummy medicine.

"There is little evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines," said Knut Schroeder in the British Medical Journal.

He and his colleague Tom Fahey studied trials, involving more than 2000 people, of popular cough medicines such as antihistamines and decongestants.

Nine studies found the medicines were no better than a placebo.

Six others found positive results, but the scientists queried their clinical importance.

It was unclear whether over-the-counter cough preparations were helpful in acute coughing cases.

"We therefore cannot yet recommend these medicines as first-line treatment for coughs associated with upper respiratory tract infection."

- REUTERS

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