Do inhaled beta-agonists control cough in URIs or acute bronchitis?

Abstract

Patients who receive inhaled beta-agonists for cough due to acute upper respiratory infections (URI) are just as likely to report a productive cough at 7 days compared with patients treated with placebo (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on a systematic review). One trial, however, showed a reduction in overall cough at 7 days (number needed to treat [NNT]=3, SOR: B, a small randomized controlled trial), and another trial found a reduction in overall symptom score in smokers and those with wheezing on initial exam (SOR: B, based on a small randomized controlled trial).