Quick-Relief Asthma Medications

Cody Wells — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:34:52 +0000

Quick relief asthma medications, also called rescue medications, are designed to keep you alive by providing quick relief during an acute asthma attack (episode). They are called short-acting bronchodilators because they quickly open up your airways. Quick-relief asthma medications can be separated into three distinct groups, as follows:

Inhaled Short-acting Beta-adrenergic and Beta2-adrenergic Agonists

Inhaled short-acting beta-adrenergic and beta2-adrenergic agonists are usually the best asthma medications for immediately relieving asthma attacks. They may be taken:

During an acute asthma attack.
When you first begin to feel a shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.
Before you feel any symptoms or signs of an asthma episode but your breathing is weaker.

These bronchodilators begin their work within minutes and can last anywhere from two to six hours. Brand names include:

Albuterol
Bitolterol
Levalbuterol
Pirbuterol

Oral and Intravenous Corticosteroids

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids may be taken to treat acute asthma attacks. They can take a few hours up to a few days to be fully effective. There are serious side effects related to the long-term use of oral and intravenous corticosteroids, which may include osteoporosis (loss of bone mineral), decreased resistance to infection, thinning of the skin, high blood pressure, cataracts, and muscle weakness. Brand names include:

Prednisone
Prednisolone
Methylprednisolone
Hydrocortisone

Anticholinergic Asthma Medications

Anticholinergic asthma medications are normally used to treat acute asthma attacks, in combination with short acting beta-adrenergic and beta2-adrenergic agonists. These medications are designed to further dilate (widen) your airways after you’ve been given a short acting beta-adrenergic or Beta2-adrenergic agonist. When used alone anticholinergic asthma medications are only marginally effective. Anticholinergic asthma medications are used mainly by doctors in emergency departments. Brand names include:

Ipratropium

Originally posted under: Asthma Treatment and Management - Natural Asthma Relief on Azmacare.com

Asthma Medication Delivery Systems

Cody Wells — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:01:44 +0000

A Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) and Assortment of Holding Chambers

Generally, inhalers work better when used together with holding chambers. If you have trouble coordinating the release of your asthma medication from your MDI with your breathing, use a chamber device. When used properly, MDI’s with holding chambers have been shown to work as effectively as nebulizers.

There are five common asthma medication delivery systems:

Metered-dose Inhalers (MDI’s)
MDI’s with Holding Chamber (larger volume spacers with one-way valves)
Nebulizers
Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI)
Autohalers (Breath-activated MDI’s)

Keep the following in mind concerning your MDI’s:

Nebulizers are an effective option for you if you have problems using MDI’s.
Try to always use a holding chamber when taking inhaled steroids (except DPI’s).
Keep extra inhalers on hand (separate inhalers for work, home, school, child care).
Use spacers every time you need to improve your inhaled medication delivery.
See your health care provider regularly, as medicine doses or asthma severity may, and normally do, change over time.
Remember to take inhaled medications before sports or exercise, if you need them.
Always Use a peak flow meter to regularly monitor your asthma.

Where to buy Metered Holding Chambers: