The Efficacy of Inhaled Corticosteroid on Chronic Idiopathic Cough

Results: Seventy-seven patients were enrolled in this randomized trial; 38 to the inhaled fluticasone group and 39 to the codeine plus levodropropizine group. The remnant cough was 41.0±35.8% in the inhaled fluticasone group, and 32.4±32.0% in the codeine＋levodropropizine group (p=0.288). Drug compliance was 95.4±7.4% and 81.8±18.6% in the inhaled fluticasone and the codeine＋levodropropizine group, respectively (p＜0.001). Nine patients had adverse drug events in the codeine＋levodropropizine group compared to one in the inhaled fluticasone group (p＜0.001). Conclusion: Short-term inhaled corticosteroid is not inferior to conventional antitussive agents in controlling chronic idiopathic cough without significant adverse events.