A study published in Journal of the Indian Medical Association aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of two cough formulas – Terbutaline, Bromhexine and Guafenesin containing expectorant and other cough formula in the management of cough associated with respiratory disorders.

In this randomized double-blinded comparative trial, 50 patients having cough associated with various respiratory disorders like bronchitis and upper or lower respiratory tract infections were randomly divided into two equal groups and were treated with one of the two cough formulas in a double-blind manner over a period of 15 days.

The results showed that the improvement and symptom relief was almost immediate, quicker and better in the group receiving the expectorant as compared to the other group. On effectiveness parameter, 96% of the physicians rated expectorant as having either very high effectiveness or high effectiveness as opposed to only 34% of the physicians who rated other cough formula as having high or very high effectiveness. While on parameter of acceptability, 96% of the patients rated acceptability of expectorant as high or good as opposed to only 24% of the patients who rated other cough formula high or good.

Hence, it was inferred that the expectorant cough formula has better efficacy as well as better patient acceptability. Terbutaline, Bromhexine and Guafenesin containing expectorant formula was found to be superior to the other cough formula in management of cough associated with respiratory disorders.

Source: Journal of the Indian Medical Association. 2000 Feb;98(2):68-70.