Neuroregulation of cough: implications for drug therapy

There have been remarkable advances recently in our understanding of the neuroregulation of cough in three areas: the properties of the sensory nerves, in particular their receptors and membrane channels; the plasticity of the pathways; and the central nervous mechanisms of cough. All these studies are relevant to our understanding of the pharmacology and therapy of cough. New approaches to antitussive therapy are following understanding of the peripheral sensory mechanisms of cough and may lead to antitussive agents without central nervous system side effects.