Lidocaine inhalation for cough suppression.

The purpose of this study was to observe the effectiveness of lidocaine in suppressing cough which is a logical extension of its established use in bronchoscopy. Nebulized lidocaine, preceded by standard nebulized albuterol inhalation driven by oxygen was given to suppress cough in a selected group of patients with intractable cough severe enough to disrupt daily life activities, especially sleep. Patients included those with asthma, reactive airways disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In these selected patients, nebulized lidocaine was very effective in suppressing cough, and thus buying time for more definitive therapies to work. This observation merits further study and confirmation for the benefit of patients.(Am J Emerg Med 2001;19:206-207. Copyright 2001 by W. B. Saunders Company