Pharmacology of Cough Suppressant: Herbal Vs Modern Drug

Cough is a protective reflex. Its main function is to clear the airways. Chronic cough represents a continuous challenge mainly for primary care. The investigation of cough is mainly based on its duration as it determines its possible causes or diseases, narrowing down the differential diagnosis, although there is always a significant overlap. Acute cough is defined as being less than 3 weeks in duration and is mainly caused by infections or potential life-threatening diseases. Sub-acute cough lasts between 3 and 8 weeks and is usually postinfectious. Chronic cough that exceeds 8 weeks in duration, is a diagnostic challenge as its etiology includes a wide range of causes. The main investigation-based approach depends on the presence or absence of radiological based abnormalities. When cough persists despite detailed evaluation and guideline-based treatment, the patient may suffer from chronic refractory cough. In the last, the main challenge Is to develop pharmaceutical interventions for either improvement or/and elimination of its intensity. In this review we suggest a stepwise approach for the investigation of cough.