The medicines over-the-counter against the cough caused by the cold or the flu would be inefficient, according to an analysis of several tests clinique1.
Published in the prestigious Cochran Database of Systematic Reviews, these results make the shade to the long list of the antitrust, expectorant, antihistamines, nucleotides, decongestants and bronchi offered on the shelves of the pharmacies. Some Irish researchers analyzed the results of 17 clinical tests led by 2 876 adults and 8 tests touch 616 children. All these tests compared the effects on the cough of various medicinal preparations offered over-the-counter to those of a placebo.
Although these products are considered, by the patients and the physicians, as efficient medicines, the set of the results doesn’t permit to conclude to the clinical utility of one or the other of the preparations tested, conclude the authors of the survey. The products having been the subject of this analysis contained various well-known pharmacological substances to have some effects capable to relieve the cough: detonator, diphtheria, codeine, and so one.
Only the nucleotides gave positive results against the cough, but the weak span of the tests led on these substances doesn’t permit to pull a definitive conclusion on their clinical utility, underline the researchers. Let’s note that a saline solution would have the same effects that the nucleotides that makes less viscous mucus secreted in the nose and the throat during an infection of the superior respiratory ways. (To see framed it below.)
These results don’t permit to conclude to the total pointlessness of the classic medicines offered over-the-counter to relieve the cough, make notice the authors of the survey. They underline however that six of the nine tests financed by pharmaceuticals gave positive results while only 3 of the 16 independent tests made to some as much.
Let’s recall that the Canadian Society of pediatrics recommends not to give any medicines over-the-counter against the cold and the flu to babies or to children of less than 3 ans5. On his/her/its side, the American College of Chest Physicians (college of the American lung specialists) advises against the use of these remedies at the children of less than 14 ans6.
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