Rather than reviewing all possible drugs for the treatment of dry cough every time you need one, you should decide, in advance, your first-choice treatment. This process of choosing your P-treatment is summarized in this chapter and discussed in more detail in Part 2 of Guide to Good Prescribing . In this example we are choosing our P-treatment for the suppression of dry cough.
Combinations are also possible.
For dry cough, information and advice can be given, explaining that the mucous membrane will not heal because of the cough and advising a patient to avoid further irritation, such as smoking or traffic exhaust fumes. Specific non-drug treatment for this condition doesn t exist, but there are a few drugs to treat a dry cough. In the case of dry cough an opioid cough suppressant or a sedative antihistamine could be considered as potential P-drugs. The last therapeutic possibility is to refer the patient for further analysis and treatment. For an initial treatment of dry cough this is not necessary.