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. 2011 Jun;71(6):943–950. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2010.03860.x

Table 3.

Pre- and post-warning prescription rates per 1000 person years of individual cough and cold medicines

The Netherlands Italy
Class of CCM 2005 2008 P value 2005 2008 P value
Expectorants Combinations* 4.3 1.7 <0.01 Combinations 4.1 5.0 0.24
Thyme syrup 14.8 0.8 <0.01
Althea root 0 0.08 0.40
Mucolytics Bromhexine 4.4 3.2 0.16 Ambroxol 17.6 19.8 0.13
Acetylcysteine 2.0 2.0 0.93 Sobrerol 16.0 20.2 <0.01
Carbocisteine 0.2 0 0.47 Carbocisteine 13.4 14.0 0.65
Dornase alpha 0 .08 0.40 Bromhexine 9.7 8.2 0.14
Opium alkaloids and derivatives Noscapine 3.7 14.1 <0.01 Dextromethorphan 3.8 1.8 <0.01
Codeine 0.8 0.4 0.88 Codeine 2.3 0.9 <0.01
Combinations§ 0.7 0.2 0.01
Other cough suppressants Pentoxyverine 7.4 6.2 0.30 Levodropropizine 14.8 10.8 <0.01
Combinations 0.6 0 0.28 Cloperastine 5.6 5.0 0.40
Clobutinol 0.2 0 0.42
Nasal sympathomimetics Xylometazoline 51 73 <0.01 Phenylephrine 0.8 0.1 <0.01
Oxymetazoline 0.1 0.4 0.21 Naphazoline 0.1 0 0.48
Combinations of nasal sympathomimetics Ephedrine based 4.6 0.2 <0.01
Tuaminoheptane based 2.9 0.1 <0.01
*

Combinations containing promethazine, oxomemazine, guaiacol, ipecacuanha.

Combinations containing pentoxyverine, terpenes, thyme.

Combinations containing terpenes, eucalyptus, guaiacol, thyme.

§

Combinations containing pentetrazol, dihydrocodeine, codeine, dextromethorphan, pseudoephedrine, triprolidine.

–, not available in the Netherlands.