Effect of Ipratropium on Acute Bronchitis in Subjects Without Underlying Lung Disease

Summary

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for acute bronchitis is a major public health concern because of antibiotic resistance. Effective therapies for managing the symptoms of acute bronchitis are lacking, however. OBJECTIVE: Determine if patients with acute bronchitis have better symptom control when treated with inhaled ipratropium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: COUGH STOP was a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial comparing ipratropium with placebo in acute bronchitis. Subjects were referred by their primary care provider or from urgent care clinics at a single institution. Subjects had been diagnosed with acute bronchitis and had no significant co-morbidities. INTERVENTION: Subjects received ipratropium or placebo inhalers, administering 2 puffs four times daily. A structured telephone interview took place 2, 4, and 8 days after enrollment. Medical records were reviewed at 60 days. OUTCOME: The primary endpoint was improvement in cough symptomology; secondary endpoints included subsequent antibiotic prescriptions and "well being."

Timeline

Start

2002-10

Primary completion

—

Completion

2004-01

Drugs

Indications