Comprehensive therapy
-
Management of chronic cough is complex and warrants careful evaluation. Some patients cough for years without help because of the indiscriminate use of antitussive medications. ⋯ Antitussive therapy should only be used as adjuvant therapy or when a cause cannot be found and the patient is not harmed by decreasing the cough. When used, the safest, least expensive antitussive drug should be instituted for a limited time pending re-evaluation of the patient's clinical course.