What is the action of antitussives?

Antitussives are medications specifically designed to suppress the cough reflex. They are often used when a cough is dry and nonproductive, providing relief to patients by reducing the urge to cough. This action can be particularly beneficial in cases where coughing can lead to discomfort or irritation of the throat and respiratory tract.

Understanding the primary role of antitussives highlights their importance in therapeutic settings, particularly for patients dealing with conditions that provoke excessive coughing, such as a cold or bronchitis, where the cough may not serve a productive purpose.

The other options relate to different types of medications or treatments; reducing anxiety is the role of anxiolytics, preventing infection pertains to antibiotics or antiviral agents, and decongesting nasal passages refers to decongestants. Each of these has distinct mechanisms and uses within the context of patient care, but none match the specific purpose of antitussives.