Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for cough

Abstract

The use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of nonproductive cough caused by viruses or bacteria and a combination of at least one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with at least one antitussive in a formulation to treat coughs.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of nonproductive cough symptomatic of an infection of a respiratory organ comprising a sufficient amount of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to substantially reduce the frequency and severity of said nonproductive cough. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1 . wherein said infection of said respiratory organs is caused by a virus or bacteria. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1 . wherein said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1  wherein said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is selected from the group consisting of ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, methyl salicylate, diflunisal, benorylate, naproxen, diclofenac, sulindac, carprofen, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, ketorolac, loxoprofen, indomethacin, tiaprofenic acid, mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, meloxicam, lomoxicam, piroxicam, nimesulide and their pharmacologically acceptable salts. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 4 , wherein said ibuprofen is selected from the group consisting of S-ibuprofen, R-ibuprofen and a racemic mixture of R-ibuprofen and S-ibuprofen. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 3 , wherein said inhibitor of cyclooxygenase is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 6 , wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of celecoxib, lumiracoxib, etoricoxib, parecoxib, valdecoxib, rofecoxib and their pharmacologically acceptable salts. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1 , consisting essentially of said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug as the sole active pharmaceutical ingredient acting against said nonproductive cough. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one antitussive. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical formulation of  claim 9 , wherein said antitussive is selected from the group consisting of codeine, dihydrocodeine, dextromethorphan, hydrocodone, clobutinol, clobutinol and pentoxyverine. 
     
     
         11 . A kit comprising a plurality of separate containers, an effective amount of an at least one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug dose disposed in a first container and an effective amount of at least one antitussive dose disposed in a second container, wherein administration of both said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug dose and said antitussive dose to a patient having a nonproductive cough symptomatic of an infection of a respiratory organ is sufficient to substantially reduce the frequency and severity of said nonproductive cough. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug doses disposed in a first plurality of separate containers and a plurality of antitussive doses disposed in a second plurality of separate containers.