Effectiveness and Adverse Drug Reactions of Phyllanthus emblica with Andrographis paniculata Dry Extract Cough Syrup in Long COVID Patients

Abstract

Objective: To study the effectiveness and adverse reactions of Phyllanthus emblica and Andrographis paniculata dry extract cough syrup in Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Center. Methods: The subject consisted of 401 participants who presented with a chronic cough lasting more than two months due to long COVID and were treated at the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Center between June and December 2024. The outcomes were measured twice i.e., before treatment and after 7 days of treatment. The study assessed effectiveness using the scale on severity of the cough modified from the Cough Severity Diary (CSD) with 0-4 range of score, and 4 being the highest severity. Moreover, patients reported their experiences on adverse effects during a follow-up visit at the Center. Results: The majority of participants were female (60.35%), with an average age of 46.53±16.46 years. Assessment of cough severity revealed that frequency of coughing decreased from 3.21±0.82 to 1.97±0.69 after treatment. Cough severity reduced from 2.75±0.77 to 0.89±1.12, while the impact on daily activities decreased from 3.08±1.03 to 2.11±0.73. Sleep disturbance reduced from 3.22±1.15 to 2.40±0.70. All changes were statistically significant (P<0.001). Reported adverse effects included localized itching on the arms and frequent urination. Conclusion: The Phyllanthus emblica and Andrographis paniculata dry extract cough syrup has a promising tendency in reducing cough severity and cough impact on daily activities in patients with long COVID-19 and persistent dry cough. Further randomized controlled trials are warrant to confirm its efficacy.