Cough is significant health problem with greater implication for impaired quality of life. Acute and chronic cough due to infective (viral/bacterial), allergic conditions or bronchial asthma including cough variant asthma are often treated with combination of mucolytics, expectorants and bronchodilators. Bronchodilators reduces cough sensitivity, promotes clearance of cough secretions while reducing protrusive inflammatory mediator release.

The aim of a study published in The Journal of the Association of Physicians in India was to further understand the clinical utility and safety of Bronchodilatory cough formulations (BCF) containing Levosalbutamol in real world settings.

This was a prospective, cross sectional, cohort analyses—Bronchodilatory coUgh formulary Survey (BUS)—that assessed Levosalbutamol cough formulations utilization at 40 centers, involving general and consultant physicians across India. Here, consecutive prescription records (n=1367) involving Levosalbutamol were collated for analyses. Baseline demographics included adults (21%) and children (79%) with mean age 11.1 yrs. The findings showed that Levosalbutamol BCF was commonly prescribed for LRTI (69.7%), AECB (14.8%), Bronchial asthma (8.5%) and Allergic rhinitis (5%). The predominant risk factors in both adults and children included smoking and allergic rhinitis, respectively. In most cases cough severity was assessed utilizing Fisman scale score (0-4). Mean cough score improved from baseline score of 3 to 0.8 with parallel improvement in associated symptoms of wheeze and sputum. Antibiotics were prescribed in most of LRTI or acute exacerbation cases with purulent sputum. Side effects noted included tremor (1%), palpitation (0.9%) and vomiting (0.7%) that were mild and transient in most cases with none requiring treatment withdrawal. In two cases (0.1%), further treatment with nebulization and antibiotics were provided.

Hence, it was inferred that Levosalbutamol containing Bronchodilatory Cough formulation remains as safe and effective option for adults and children while managing acute or chronic cough primarily due to allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma or COPD.

Source: The Journal of the Association of Physicians in India. 2016 Sep;64(9):45-48.