Not too long ago, I warned you about wasting money on worthless over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat a bad cough. The American College of Chest Physicians finally got a clue this week, reversing their stance on the debatable worth of OTC cough drops and medicines after reviewing scores of decades-old studies.In fact, doctors concluded there was no evidence suppressants like (dextromethorphan) or expectorants (guaifenesin) relieve cold-related coughing at all. Any "benefit" an OTC drug may have on your cough, according to the lead researcher, is strictly the result of a strong placebo effect.No big surprise, a spokesperson for Wyeth -- the maker of Robitussin -- defended the value of such worthless products based on consumer demand and their safety. But that spokesperson also failed to mention dextromethorphan also causes cause birth defects and has become one of the leading abused drugs among adolescents in recent years.
USA Today January 10, 2006
Integrated Medicine Forum
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