Medicines are expensive and useless

British doctors advise not to spend money on coughing drugs for coughing without a prescription, cough drugs can be ineffective, says a report published last week by an influential non -profit organization Cochrane Collaboration.

The comparative analysis based on the results of 25 studies, in which both adults and children took part, it is said that “there are no significant arguments for or against” the drugs sold without a prescription, but evidence of their effectiveness is recognized as “weak”. Simple paracetamol or ibuprofen, as well as increasing the level of knowledge of the population about coughing are the same effective means of combating it as expensive over -the -counter medicines, one of the authors of the report said.

At the initiative of Cochrane CollBoration, experts analyzed and summarized the results of 17 studies, which were attended by 2876 adult patients, as well as 8 studies with the participation of 616 children dedicated to the most popular cough medicines sold in the free domain in supermarkets and pharmacies.

The studies spoke of suppressants usually used for “dry” coughing, expectorants for “wet” coughing, and antihistamines used for allergies and breathing problems. In a comparative analysis, it is recognized that they bring little benefit.

“In our review, it is shown that the benefits of taking these drugs have not been proven, but this is not the same as their proven irritation,” said Professor Thomas Fahai, head of the family medicine department at the royal college of surgeons at the Irish Medical School.

“I do not recommend taking medications sold without a doctor’s prescription for my patients and their children. It seems to me that anesthetic type of paracetamol is much more effective. Natural means, for example, inhalations, also help. In fact, it is necessary to make people know more about the cough. Often, if the cough does not pass in a week, people begin to worry and drink medicines, although in fact the coughing passes in two weeks in children, and in adults - after three. If you have a cough, this does not mean that something bad is happening. The cough is useful. This is a mechanism for cleaning from viruses, ”he said.

Scientists have investigated drugs with active components, including an expectorant hewifenesin, a dextrometerfan suppressant, and a diffenhydramine antihistamine. They are often used in drugs such as Benylin, Vicks and Beechams. Many tests showed that in comparison with placebo, they have a very weakly expressed effect, although in some cases they bring some benefit.

In a small percentage of patients taking such drugs, side effects occurred, including nausea, headache and sleepy condition. When conducting a test using a malevastin suppressant, the number of adult patients complaining of side effects in the form of vomiting and abdominal pain was three times higher than in a group taking placebo.

The authors of comparative analysis believe that due to a wide spectrum and various types of drugs used in various tests, it was impossible for them to come to a convincing and statistically justified conclusion.

The Proprietary Association of Great Britain, a trading association representing manufacturers of drugs sold without a doctor’s prescription, says that the regulatory authorities of many states of the world approve of the use of cough preparations, and that the relevant studies confirm the effectiveness of their active components.

Sheila Kelly, the Executive Director of the Association, said: “These drugs, widely represented in the British market, have successfully demonstrated their effectiveness. For decades, millions of consumers used them. They were approved by the British agency for the supervision of drugs and medical devices (MHRA), which means that people can rely on over -the -counter medicines for coughing when they get sick or when their children are sick. However, if they have fears, they should consult a doctor or pharmacist. ”

01/30/2008 / Nick Britten