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Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ryan, MA; Cohen, SM
Published in: Laryngoscope
December 2016

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate short- and long-term treatment outcomes of amitriptyline for idiopathic cough. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and anonymous survey of a patient cohort. METHODS: We evaluated a cohort of adults treated for cough at the Duke Voice Care Center with amitriptyline over a 2- to 3-year period. We characterized demographics, symptoms, treatment variability, and treatment effects from chart review and survey responses. We performed univariate analysis comparing cough improvement to age, gender, symptoms of throat irritation, cough duration, concurrent speech therapy, and dosage. RESULTS: Eighty-nine percent were taking the medication at the first clinical follow-up at a mean 2.6 months, and overall, 67% reported ≥50% improvement. No statistically significant predictors of cough improvement with medication were identified. At follow-up 2 to 3 years later, overall, 53% reported ≥50% improvement, with only 34% of patients still taking amitriptyline. After 2 to 3 years, 65% of patients had titrated the medication to effect, and 33% restarted the medication. Occurrence of side effects was the most frequent reason for stopping the medication. CONCLUSIONS: Amitriptyline can be an effective and well-tolerated part of short- and long-term management of idiopathic cough in adults. Titrating the dose and restarting are often necessary. Larger studies and randomized control trials are needed to better understand the outcomes of using amitriptyline to treat idiopathic cough. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2758-2763, 2016.

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Published In

Laryngoscope

DOI

EISSN

1531-4995

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

126

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2758 / 2763

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Cough
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
 

Citation

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Ryan, M. A., & Cohen, S. M. (2016). Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough. Laryngoscope, 126(12), 2758–2763. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.25978
Ryan, Marisa A., and Seth M. Cohen. “Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough.Laryngoscope 126, no. 12 (December 2016): 2758–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.25978.
Ryan MA, Cohen SM. Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough. Laryngoscope. 2016 Dec;126(12):2758–63.
Ryan, Marisa A., and Seth M. Cohen. “Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough.Laryngoscope, vol. 126, no. 12, Dec. 2016, pp. 2758–63. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/lary.25978.
Ryan MA, Cohen SM. Long-term follow-up of amitriptyline treatment for idiopathic cough. Laryngoscope. 2016 Dec;126(12):2758–2763.
Journal cover image

Published In

Laryngoscope

DOI

EISSN

1531-4995

Publication Date

December 2016

Volume

126

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2758 / 2763

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Cough
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic