Pharmacology of ANTITUSSIVE DRUGS (cough suppressants)

In this video, we are going to cover the pharmacology of antitussive drugs.
Antitussives are natural alkaloids or synthetic compounds that suppress coughing, also known as cough suppressants. These drugs are thought to work by inhibiting cough reflex arc in the central structures (for example: in the medulla) or in the sensory neurons of respiratory pathways.
First, let's discuss about the classification of antitussive drugs: According to where they act, cough suppressants can be classified into 1)centrally acting agents and 2) Peripheral agents; Centrally acting agents work by inhibiting the cough center in the medulla; There are 3 categories of centrally acting agents and these are:
1.Opioids. Examples of opioids: Codeine; Ethylmorphine; Pholcodine
2.The second group is Nonopioids. Examples of Nonopioids: Noscapine; Dextromethorphan; Chlophedianol.
3.The third group of centrally acting agents are Antihistamines. Examples of Antihistamines are: Chlorpheniramine; Diphenhydramine; Promethazine

Now let's talk about peripheral agents. They reduce cough by acting on the peripheral components of the cough reflex. There are 2 categories of peripheral agents and these are:
1. Specific acting peripheral agents such as prenoxdiazine
and
2. Nonspecific agents. Examples of Nonspecific agents are: a)Expectorants which are medications or natural ingredients that help clear mucus from the airways
b)Local anesthetics which are commonly used to block the cough reflex during endoscopic procedures
c)Nasal decongestants
d)Bronchodilators such as Salbutamol

Classification: (0:00)
Cough reflex: (2:04)
Structure of the bronchial wall: (4:11)
Peripherally acting antitussives: (5:11)
Centrally acting antitussives: (8:59)
Centrally and Peripherally acting antitussives: (12:59)