What has dry cough in common with pruritus? Treatment of dry cough with paroxetine.

Abstract

Distressing persistent dry cough is commonly the consequence of sensitization of the cough reflex. A slight and transient peripheral nociceptive impulse, such as bronchitis, may be perpetuated for weeks because of sensitization of the cough reflex. Cough usually can be inhibited by opioids, but some types of cough can be out of opioid control or even be induced by opioids. We describe here a series of 5 patients with dry cough that did not respond to codeine. Because two of these patients also suffered with pruritus, paroxetine was tried. In all patients, cough ceased within hours to days. The only observed adverse effect was sleepiness in the first days of therapy. Paroxetine should be investigated as antitussive in cases of opioid-resistant cough. The putative mechanism of action of paroxetine on pruritus and rough is discussed.