I have also had trouble with nonproductive cough for a while now...all chest films and such are neg, although I do smoke cigs and marijuana and have mild chronic bronchitis.I also use an albuterol inhaler for wheezing and that helps with the cough. Morning coughs are usually productive, but after all that is coughed up, it's just a dry hacking cough that is very annoying. I take Trizivir BID and Viread QHS. There is a drug called Tessalon Pearles (Benzonatate) 100-200mg that works very well for this problem. It has a very low side effect profile and has been agreeable with my hiv meds and the handfull of meds to control side effects. It is non-narcotic and works very well...You might consider asking you PCP about trying it...Also, you could try some prescription meds such as Sta-tuss green or another preperation that contains a low dose of hydrocodone, which is also used to control cough, although this is a narcotic drug and I dont know how you feel about taking something like that. But it is worth a try...esp the Benzonatate 200mg BID or TID...of course with your docs approval...Thank you docs at thebody.com for the valuable role you play in HIV treatment..This is an especially a good site, beacuse many people are embarassed to tell their docs about symptoms esp. the embarassing ones..You make it much easier to cope with this disease, because you can read questions and look at problems that other HIV'ers experience and know that you are not alone by any stretch of the imagination...I believe that you HAVE to be your own advocate when it comes to HIV healthcare...Learn as much as you can....Ray

To my knowledge your current HIV drugs are not associated with cough per se. I assume you have been evaluated for reactive airways with pulmonary function tests, reflux esophagitis, pulmonary hypertensioh,and X-rays/looking at lung anatomy?? Of course the pot and cigarettes are not good for your longs overall!! KH