The study, involving 27 patients with intractable cough, found that a highly significant reduction by 40 percent in daily cough scores was noted by patients using slow-release morphine sulfate.
"Although acute cough is benign and self-limiting, chronic persistent cough can have a devastating effect on the quality of life of sufferers. This research provides evidence for the use of opiates in chronic cough," describes lead researcher Alyn H. Morice of the Department of Academic Medicine at the University of Hull.
The findings of the study are reported in the February issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
