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Table 2 Recommended dosages for antitussives, demulcents and topical anaesthetics

From: Clinical expert guidelines for the management of cough in lung cancer: report of a UK task group on cough

Medication

Dosage

Simple linctus

5 ml tds/qds

Dextromethorphan

10-15 mg tds/qds

Codeine

30-60 mg qds

Pholcodine

10 ml tds

Morphine (oramorph)

5 mg (single dose trial of oramorph; if effective 5-10 mg slow release morphine bd)

Diamorphine

5-10 mg CSCI/24 hrs

Methadone linctus

Single dose 2 mg (2 mL of 1 mg/mL solution)

Dihydrocodeine*

10 mg tds

Hydrocodone

5 mg bd

Inhaled cromoglycate

10 mg qds

Levodropropizine*

75 mg tds

Moguisteine*

100-200 mg tds

Levocloperastine*

20 mg tds

Nebulised Lidocaine#

5 ml of 0.2% tds

Nebulised Bupivacaine#

5 ml of 0.25% tds

Benzonatate*

100-200 mg qds

Prednisolone

30 mg daily for 2 weeks

  1. t.d.s.: 3 times daily; q.d.s.: 4 times daily; csci: subcutaneously; b.d.: twice daily.
  2. *Not available in the UK and some other countries.
  3. #Avoid food/drinks for at least 1 hr; first dose as inpatient in case of reflex bronchospasm.