Amoxicillin/clavulanate or ibuprofen no better than placebo for acute bronchitis

摘要

In adults with discolored sputum and acute bronchitis, is treatment with amoxicillin/ clavulanate (Augmentin) or ibuprofen more effective than placebo in decreasing the number of days with frequent cough? Treating acute bronchitis with amoxicillin/ clavulanate or the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen is no more effective than placebo in decreasing symptoms in general or duration of frequent cough. Treatment does, however, produce adverse effects in one in eight patients. To quote Osier: "The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals." In that case, prescribing ibuprofen rather than an antibiotic may be the better way to allow patients to take medicine while their cough resolves. (Level of Evidence = 1b)