Effect of tiotropium on cough reflex sensitivity in acute viral cough

Cough is the most common complaint for which patients in the United States seek medical attention. Few, if any, effective therapies exist for the most common form of acute cough, that due to viral upper respiratory tract infection (URI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the anticholinergic agent tiotropium bromide on cough reflex sensitivity in subjects with acute viral URI.

Otherwise healthy adult nonsmokers with acute viral URI were randomized to receive inhaled tiotropium, 18 microg once daily, or matched placebo, for 7 days. A control group of healthy volunteers underwent an identical protocol.

Cough reflex sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin was measured at baseline (Day 0), and 1 h after the first (Day 1) and seventh (Day 7) dose of tiotropium or placebo. Concentrations of capsaicin inducing two or more (C (2)) and five or more coughs (C (5)) were determined. In subjects with URI, tiotropium (n = 11) demonstrated inhibition of cough reflex sensitivity relative to baseline (increased log C (2) [p = 0.004] and log C (5) [p = 0.0004]) after the first dose. No change occurred in the placebo group (n = 10). After 7 days, mean log C (2) was significantly increased in the tiotropium group relative to placebo (p = 0.03). Although FEF(25-75) was also increased in the tiotropium group (p = 0.016), there was no significant correlation between changes in cough reflex sensitivity and FEF(25-75). Tiotropium had no effect in healthy volunteers (n = 24).

Tiotropium inhibits cough reflex sensitivity to capsaicin in subjects with acute viral URI. The antitussive effect of tiotropium may occur through a mechanism other than bronchodilation.