A University of Newcastle led study has found a possible treatment for chronic cough sufferers.
62 sufferers with a cough lasting eight or more weeks were subject to a placebo-controlled trial of Gabapentin, a drug widely used to treat pain and epileptic seizures.
Seventy-fave per cent of patients in the Gabapentin group reported improvement in cough severity, frequency and quality of life, while less than half of the placebo group reported similar effects.
Despite the promising results, Gabapentin was found to have side effects, with 10 of the patients in the drug group complaining of dizziness, fatigue and nausea.
Hunter researchers will now study another drug as a
potential chronic cough treatment which has fewer side effects and is
said to be more effective at a lower dose.
The results were published in The Lancet international journal.
