Katie Law wrote:
>
> Sitting here cos I can't stop coughing (4 am) leads me to thoughts on
> cough linctus.
Interesting, our unexpected differences in terminology at times.
"Linctus" - a term I've never heard in 30 years training and practice
and brought up in the home of a country GP to boot. Not that I've never
been exposed to older usages... I trained at a transition time between
apothecary and metric systems and was taught the older drugs (e.g.
morphine) in grains and newer (Demerol) in mg.
But "linctus"? Off to Dorland's Med. Dict. to find (from L. "a licking")
"an electuary". Great. Quite illuminating. Look that up and find
basically a simple syrup with medicine in it. Cough syrup. (muttermutter
damned Brits muttermutter).
>
> All I want, and I suspect this is the desire of most people who buy
> them, is to stop this irritating cough enough to get some sleep.
>
I think the only effective antitussive is codeine. We have preps with
dextromethorphan which are touted and available OTC but seem mostly
expensive placebos. I prefer an old combination - Phenergan w/ codeine.
A combination, to be sure, but I think the antiemetic effect of the
phenergan tends to offset the nauseating effects that codeine has on
some and its sedative effects don't hurt at night when sleep is desired.
> (and I do like the taste of simple linctus)
So do I when it is made Southern style :-)). Granny's recipe included
honey, hot tea, lemon and a good dollop of sour mash bourbon - the only
time she countenanced the use of strong spirits. ;-)
> --
Phil
4 Bailey Hill Road
Natick, MA, 01760, USA
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(508) 650-9097 - voice
(508) 650-9152 - fax
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