Pharmacological treatment of acute bronchitis is mainly symptomatic and includes cough suppression, expectoration and wheezing. Commonly used drugs are as follows.
① Cough suppression: Patients can apply cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan, pentoxifylline (cough suppressant) or benpropirin as appropriate. For those with a lot of sputum, strong cough suppressants such as codeine should not be used as they may affect the expulsion of sputum.
(2) Expectorant: Ambroxol hydrochloride, bromoxyn (Bisphen), N-acetylcysteine, standard myrtle oil, etc. all have phlegm-reducing effects.
(iii) Antispasmodic and anti-allergic: patients with bronchospasm (wheezing) can be treated with aminophylline, salbutamol and aminophenamine maleate.
④Antibiotic therapy: Doctors generally do not recommend routine antibacterial medication for acute tracheo-bronchitis with non-bacterial infections.
⑤ Antiviral therapy: during an influenza epidemic, patients who present with acute tracheobronchitis should apply anti-influenza (oseltamivir or zanamivir) treatment measures.