The few randomized, placebo-controlled trials that have examined the effect of β2-agonists administered orally or by aerosol for cough associated with acute bronchitis have involved small numbers of patients and have had mixed results.34-36 In these studies, among patients without preexisting lung disease, daily cough scores and the likelihood of persistent cough after 7 days did not differ significantly between the active treatment and placebo groups. However, in one trial, a subgroup of patients with evidence of airflow limitation had significantly lower scores for symptoms on day 2 after treatment with β2-agonists.34 A recent Cochrane Review of five trials involving 418 adults showed that even among patients with airflow obstruction, the potential benefit of β2-agonists is not well supported and should be balanced against the adverse effects of treatment.37 In practice, a brief trial(7 days) of inhaled or oral corticosteroids may be reasonable for troublesome cough (i.e., cough persisting for more than 20 days), but there are no clinical trial data to support this approach. Data from clinical trials are also not available to support the use of mucolytic or antitussive agents.