USE OF BACLOFEN TO SUPPRESS COUGH INDUCED BY ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-INHIBITORS

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether baclofen can suppress the cough induce d by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. DESIGN: Prospecti ve, open-label, clinical trial of a 4-week course of low-dose oral bac lofen (5 mg tid days 1-7, 10 mg tid days 8-28). SUBJECTS: Seven patien ts with severe, persistent ACE inhibitor-induced cough SETTING: Univer sity-affiliated teaching hospital MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Study partici pants kept daily diaries monitoring the frequency of cough during and after completion of baclofen therapy. RESULTS: All subjects demonstrat ed diminution of cough after initiation of baclofen. Initial improveme nt was noted by a mean of 4.0 days (range 3-6), and maximal improvemen t during treatment was achieved by a mean of 10.7 days (range 5-15). I n addition, all subjects demonstrated persistent suppression of cough (range 25-74 d) after discontinuation of the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose oral baclofen therapy caused a prolonged antitussive effect i n all subjects without inducing any adverse reactions. Baclofen may of fer an alternative to the discontinuation of ACE inhibitor therapy in patients for whom these drugs are required.