Treatment of chronic cough: P2X3 receptor antagonists and beyond

For years chronic cough (CC) has presented an enormous physical, psychological, and social burden on those who experience it, with no approved pharmacological therapies to assuage their symptoms. With our improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CC, primarily the recognition of neuronal dysregulation in its aetiology, there appears to be a new hope for such patients. In this review we discuss the multitude of proposed pharmacological targets in CC, including the promising results produced by the antagonism of P2X3 receptors. We also assess the evidence of other peripherally acting pharmacolgical agents still in development.