Hi

I have a persistent cough, had it four or five weeks or more so far have consulted 3 GP with various treatments suggested including a round of antibiotics. It started as something viral in the throat but I am beginning to suspect it is an allergy, perhaps to medications or supplements any thoughts

Are you taking any high blood pressure medications. I had that happen a number of years ago and it turned out to be a rare known side effect of the medication I was on at that time. And yeah... took a few years before I ever had a problem. Stopped within a week of changing medication.

I can't remember what the exact medication was (was the cheapest most common in the USA, they only move on to others if you have issues with the cheaper ones) as it was almost 10 years ago. Was a dry cough, one that felts like you had something that needed coughed up but nothing ever came loose, could progress to VERY heavy cough

This may not be your issue... but it is one possibility.

BP drugs create by-products called kinins, that are supposed to be excreted by the kidneys. If your kidneys are aging or compromised, they can't, and the kinins go to the lungs. Awful isn't it? I took first Losinipril and second Norvasc, and both produced a cough, after less than a week. The first is an ACE inhibitor and the second is a channel blocker.

Your blood work (KFTs) might show all is in range, so you can't go by that. Many doctors don't know this....

Maybe the common one you took was Hydrochlorothiazide, which is a beta blocker?

Another reason for cough is a dental problem. I had one 22 years ago that didn't respond to antibiotics and it got worse for 10 months. It was an infection under a crown, a cracked tooth. Didn't show on x ray either. Specialist found it in 2 seconds (periodontist). I now have a low grade infection from a root canal post that fell out of another tooth. But this one is an upper tooth, so the problems are all in my nose and off to my ear and down my neck.

The gingivitis mouth bacteria are not supposed to be able to get past the barriers but they do.

I have other ideas if those don't apply.

Wondergirl forwarded your question to me since I had the same problem about a year ago - persistent cough not responding to normal treatment.

At my next doctor visit, he changed a drug I was taking for high blood pressure. Cough disappeared in about 2-3 days - never to return.

The drug is an ACE inhibitor (see Joypulv above) called lisinopril. Thats a generic name. The brand names are Zestril and Prinivil. It may be marketed under different names in Australia.

A common side effect of ACE inhibitors is a dry cough. Or it may not be the source of your cough.

Good luck.

PS - The doctor was a cardiologist, not a GP.

I had hhe same issue width lisinopril.

My cough took about 5 weeks to go away after stopping each drug.
Each person can vary a LOT as to when it starts and when it stops.

Yes Smoothy I'm taking two and your description is what I am experiencing I will research the side effects again my GP told me today a cough is a side effect of one of them even though it is not noted in the advisory