Dextromethorphan Demonstrates Antitussive Efficacy in Young Children With Common Cold, Cough

According to recent study findings published online in Pediatric Pulmonology, the use of dextromethorphan hydrobromide as a cough suppressant in children reduced frequency of coughs during the day. 

The aim of this pilot clinical study was to identify the most appropriate objective and subjective measures for evaluating the effectiveness of dextromethorphan hydrobromide as an antitussive (cough suppressant) in children. The study involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial with multiple doses of dextromethorphan or placebo administered over 4 days to children aged 6 to 11 years with cough caused by the common cold. 

During a run-in period, the participants' coughs were recorded using a cough monitor after receiving a sweet syrup dose. Subsequently, participants were randomly assigned to receive either dextromethorphan or placebo. Coughs were recorded during the initial 24 hours, and the participants self-reported the severity and frequency of their coughs daily throughout the treatment period.

The analysis included data from 128 eligible participants (67 receiving dextromethorphan and 61 receiving placebo). The primary endpoint, which was the total number of coughs over 24 hours, showed a significant reduction of 21.0% with dextromethorphan compared to placebo. Dextromethorphan was also associated with a 25.5% reduction in cough frequency during the daytime. The self-reported assessments also indicated greater reductions in cough severity and frequency with dextromethorphan compared to placebo. 

No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of nighttime cough rates or the impact of cough on sleep. Overall, multiple doses of dextromethorphan and placebo were well-tolerated by the participants.

The study highlighted the diurnal variation of cough frequency, indicating a decrease in coughs per hour during sleep for both the dextromethorphan and placebo groups. This reduction in nighttime coughs may have influenced the sensitivity of the assay, making it more challenging to detect treatment differences during sleep, researchers noted.

Researchers concluded dextromethorphan effectively suppresses cough in children and emphasized the importance of utilizing validated assessment tools when evaluating antitussive therapies in pediatric populations.

Reference:
Meeves SG, Cruz-Rivera M, Leyva RA, et al. Objective and self-reported evidence of dextromethorphan antitussive efficacy in children, aged 6-11 years, with acute cough due to the common cold. Pediatr Pulmonol. Published online May 26, 2023. doi:10.1002/ppul.26416