Comments on: Ditch the Dimetapp? http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/ We have technical difficulties, it will take a day or two to get back to normal. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:49:00 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: azmanam http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8784 azmanam Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:42:44 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8784 Did anyone watch <i>House</i> last night? :) Did anyone watch House last night? :)

]]> By: mitch http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8768 mitch Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:59:39 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8768 I like the taste of medicine though. IT is probably why I like root beer. I like the taste of medicine though. IT is probably why I like root beer.

]]> By: azmanam http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8763 azmanam Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:18:38 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8763 The authors seem to be saying 'hey, your cough's going to get better with time.' The cough syrups never claim to 'cure' a cough - only to relieve symptoms. Given a night to rest (and allow time to elapse), children taking cough medicine improved the same as children taking placebo. I'm sure there's a placebo-by-proxy effect, but might that just confirm the findings? Whether or not cough medicines actually work (and the authors appear to think they don't), parents of children on the placebo felt their children improved just as much as parents of children on active ingredient. Given that the cough medicine isn't going to cure a cough, all that you're really aiming for when taking cough syrup is relief from symptoms. If a placebo can do it for the price of sugar (literally), then why risk the side effects/potential abuse issues of dextromethorphan. Interestingly, as I was reading about DXM and related abuse, one site I read indicated that cough syrups taste terrible on purpose. For two reasons. One, it helps mask the already terrible taste of the alkaloid DXM, and it provides a negative feedback to hopefully stave off potential abuse. It's not that they can't make it taste good, it's that they're actively trying to KEEP it from tasting good. The authors seem to be saying ‘hey, your cough’s going to get better with time.’ The cough syrups never claim to ‘cure’ a cough – only to relieve symptoms. Given a night to rest (and allow time to elapse), children taking cough medicine improved the same as children taking placebo.

I’m sure there’s a placebo-by-proxy effect, but might that just confirm the findings? Whether or not cough medicines actually work (and the authors appear to think they don’t), parents of children on the placebo felt their children improved just as much as parents of children on active ingredient. Given that the cough medicine isn’t going to cure a cough, all that you’re really aiming for when taking cough syrup is relief from symptoms. If a placebo can do it for the price of sugar (literally), then why risk the side effects/potential abuse issues of dextromethorphan.

Interestingly, as I was reading about DXM and related abuse, one site I read indicated that cough syrups taste terrible on purpose. For two reasons. One, it helps mask the already terrible taste of the alkaloid DXM, and it provides a negative feedback to hopefully stave off potential abuse. It’s not that they can’t make it taste good, it’s that they’re actively trying to KEEP it from tasting good.

]]> By: Chemjobber http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8750 Chemjobber Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:20:10 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8750 Wouldn't a Chemgeek-type digital solution work the best? Digitally record the child's nighttime sleep patterns, get some poor psych-major to count the number of coughs, presto - believable data! Wouldn’t a Chemgeek-type digital solution work the best? Digitally record the child’s nighttime sleep patterns, get some poor psych-major to count the number of coughs, presto – believable data!

]]> By: mitch http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8732 mitch Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:29:00 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8732 I wish there was a scientific way to see if there was a difference. A parental survey seems lacking. I wish there was a scientific way to see if there was a difference. A parental survey seems lacking.

]]> By: chiraljones http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8718 chiraljones Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:16:00 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8718 first thing I immediately noticed about the study that may affect the data: having parents rate the severity of the symptoms of their kids, rather than the kids rate the symptoms themselves. could that evoke some sort of "placebo-by-proxy" effect? first thing I immediately noticed about the study that may affect the data: having parents rate the severity of the symptoms of their kids, rather than the kids rate the symptoms themselves.

could that evoke some sort of “placebo-by-proxy” effect?

]]> By: Chemgeek http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2009/11/22/ditch-the-dimetapp/comment-page-1/#comment-8713 Chemgeek Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:33:54 +0000 http://www.chemistry-blog.com/?p=3178#comment-8713 I use honey for my kids all the time. It doesn't do anything, but they don't know that. It does provide some level of comfort. I've also done a number of 'experiments' with them. I count how many times they cough during a 15 minute period and then do that same after giving them a spoonful of honey. There has never been a change in their cough, but they tell me they feel better. So, is relying on the placebo effect dishonest? I use honey for my kids all the time. It doesn’t do anything, but they don’t know that. It does provide some level of comfort.

I’ve also done a number of ‘experiments’ with them. I count how many times they cough during a 15 minute period and then do that same after giving them a spoonful of honey. There has never been a change in their cough, but they tell me they feel better.

So, is relying on the placebo effect dishonest?

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