Antitussive medications are used to control which symptom?

Antitussive medications are used to control which symptom?

• A. Vomiting
• B. Pain
• C. Coughing
• D. Infection

Answer: (C)

Antitussives suppress the cough reflex. They work by dampening the signaling that triggers coughing, either by acting on the brain’s cough center or by numbing the airway nerves, which reduces the urge to cough. This is why they’re used to control coughing, especially a dry or nonproductive cough that’s causing discomfort or sleep disturbance. Vomiting is reduced with antiemetics, pain with analgesics, and infections with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, so those symptoms aren’t addressed by antitussives.

Antitussives suppress the cough reflex. They work by dampening the signaling that triggers coughing, either by acting on the brain’s cough center or by numbing the airway nerves, which reduces the urge to cough. This is why they’re used to control coughing, especially a dry or nonproductive cough that’s causing discomfort or sleep disturbance. Vomiting is reduced with antiemetics, pain with analgesics, and infections with appropriate antimicrobial therapy, so those symptoms aren’t addressed by antitussives.