No Evidence That Non-Antibiotic Medications Reduce Symptoms of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40681786/ Medications such as corticosteroids, anti-cough medication, and inhalers are not associated with the duration or severity of illness for adult outpatients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), according to an AHRQ-funded study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The authors examined the use and effectiveness of non-antibiotic alternatives in patients with LRTI because physicians frequently prescribe them to avoid risks of microbial resistance, but there are few studies on their impact. The team enrolled 718 primary and urgent care patients with acute LRTI and followed them for up to 28 days to study symptom progressions. They found no association between receiving a corticosteroid, a short-action inhaler, or benzonatate (a cough suppressant) with the duration or severity of cough or the need for an unscheduled followup visit. The authors suggested that use of these non-antibiotic medications is inappropriate and carries real risks for patients.