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Archive for the ‘Asthma Drugs’ Category

The two types of drugs used to treat asthma include medications long-term control and quick-relief medications in the short term . While the goal of both medications is to treat the symptoms of asthma are used for different purposes.

The medicines long-term control is usually taken every day to control asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks from occurring.

The quick-relief medication is primarily taken to relieve the sudden onset of asthma symptoms (such as during an asthma attack), and in cases in which asthma symptoms occur only occasionally.

The type of medication prescribed by your doctor to treat their asthma symptoms depends on the type and severity of their asthma, and their individual medical needs.

Drug Control long-term

Medications to control long-term asthma medications include inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs (medications that reduce or prevent inflammation of the airways) and long-acting bronchodilators (drugs that open airways by relaxing muscles around and in the ways respiratory tighten during asthma).

The goal of long-term medications is to reduce and prevent inflammation of the airways that can trigger asthma attacks. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, its acronym in English is NHLBI ), the drugs long-term control may be recommended for people who:

Experience asthma symptoms three or more times a week.
Experience asthma symptoms at night three times or more per month.
When people first start medication long-term control, it may take a few weeks for the medication to take effect. It is important that the medicine long-term control is taken every day, even if the person feels good to continue to control asthma at an optimal level.

Steroids are a family of chemicals commonly created in the body. Steroids act as hormones, chemical signals that help regulate growth and body functions.

There are different types of “steroids”
Some steroid hormones like testosterone, stimulate the formation of protein and muscle growth. The derivatives of these steroids to strengthen the body are used illicitly by athletes competing in order to improve their athletic performance.

Corticosteroids are part of a very different group of steroids used for asthma treatment in the form of medicines and have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Since the beginning of the century, corticosteroids have been used to treat a wide variety of diseases where inflammation is the main problem (does not include infections or cancer) such as arthritis, psoriasis and asthma. Read the rest of this entry »

A study by Australian doctors have determined that a child asthma drug has no benefits against this evil and may have harmful consequences. The research was released today by the journal “The Cochrane Library,” published by “The Cochrane Collaboration” an international organization dedicated to evaluating medical studies.

According to Australian scientists, the drugs known as metilaxantinas corticosteroids have been replaced in the industrialized world, but are an important therapeutic for children’s cough cure in developing countries. “We have found good evidence that the use of child cough metilaxantinas be linked to (a cure) other asthmatic symptoms, “said Anne Chang, Queensland Children’s Hospital, lead author of the study. The metilaxantinas cause a relaxation of the bronchial thereby reducing the cough and breathing difficulties.

But on the other hand, are dangerous to children as they cause an imbalance in the nervous system, irritability and even cardiac arrhythmia can be fatal, according to researchers. Chang said that given the problems of chronic cough in children the metilaxantinas could be considered as a potential treatment only after other investigations have been made ​​and after a careful examination of side effects

Uses of Medications For Asthma
People with asthma have sensitive airways called bronchi that may be affected by several factors. These factors include food, drugs, pets, smoke or other irritants in the air, common colds or exercise. When exposed to one of the factors, may lack the air, they are closed or have chest wheezing. Counter medications for asthma, also known as bronchodilators, are medicines used to help relieve breathing problems caused by bronchial asthma.

Ways That Work For Asthma Medications
Asthma medications, like all prescription medicines contain certain active ingredients that make the products work in the human body. The product’s active ingredients, including the amount of each substance in each dose, are listed first in the label information on the drug or Drug Facts label. Read the rest of this entry »

What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic or long-term. If you have asthma, at times, their airways, or bronchi become inflamed (see diagram). When this happens, your airways become red and inflamed. They become narrow, making it difficult for you to breathe. You may also wheeze or cough. Even when you feel good, his airways can be inflamed. Certain things, such as smoke or dust can start or trigger an asthma attack.

What is the treatment for asthma?
Most people with asthma take two kinds of medicines. One kind is called controller medicine long term. These drugs help control inflammation so you feel and breathe better. They stop your airways from reacting to what triggers your asthma. Controller medicines work only long if you take every day the way your doctor tells you. Another type of medication for asthma is quick-relief or rescue medicine (also called bronchodilators). These medicines dilate the airways (make them bigger) and make it easier for you to breathe. These inhaled medicines should only be used for quick relief when you are coughing or wheezing or chest tightness.

What medications are commonly used in children with asthma?
The use of drugs in children is highly individualized and based on the severity of the child’s symptoms, age of the child and the child’s ability to take inhaled medications. The following are the most commonly used medications:

Bronchodilators
These medications are used to counteract the effect of narrowing in the lungs and may relieve coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. These are usually considered “rescue medications” for acute attacks of asthma. Beta agonists, theophylline and anticholinergics are types of bronchodilators. These drugs are available in pills, liquid, inhaled or injected.

The short-acting bronchodilators are used as needed when symptoms occur. Long-acting bronchodilators can be used for maintenance or daily to help control outbreaks.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
These medications help reduce inflammation that occurs in the airways. These include two types of medications:

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Cromolyn and nedocromil are two examples of this type of medication that children are usually inhaled. Read the rest of this entry »

Theophylline
Theophylline has been used for over 30 years to treat asthma.

* Comes in the form of tablets, capsules or intravenously.
* It should monitor blood levels.
* Side effects include headaches, palpitations and stomach upset. Severe toxicity in the blood levels higher than the therapeutic may lead to seizures.

Anticholinergic Agents
Anticholinergic agents are available in inhaled form.

* Can be used alone or in combination with beta-agonist bronchodilator.
* Ipratropium is used to treat asthma, although its official use is for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
* Side effects may be a cough and headache.

Anti-IgE antibody:
Omalizumab was approved in 2003 as a new class of therapy known as “anti-IgE, allergic asthma for patients with moderate to severe persistent. It is currently approved only for use in the treatment of asthma.

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ICS: inhaled corticosteroids are considered the most effective medications for long-term control of persistent asthma. They offer a good asthma control with minimal effect on the rest of the body with normal doses.

* Minor side effects include the use of corticosteroid inhalers are hoarseness and thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth and throat). It is less probable that both problems appear if you gargle with water after use.

* Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids in children may cause a transient reduction in growth velocity, however, this problem tends to be minimal (about half an inch in the first year of use, usually without a continuous effect). In most cases, the benefits of controlling asthma is greater than the potential for any adverse effects.

Anti-leukotrienes: Many cells involved in inflammation of the airways produce powerful chemicals in the body called leukotrienes). Leukotrienes are responsible for increased inflammation that narrows the airway muscles and inflames the lining of those conduits.

* These drugs are used mainly for control in patients with moderate persistent asthma and in combination with inhaled corticosteroids in moderate to severe disease.

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Over 50 million people in the United States suffer from asthma and allergies. Fortunately, today there are many effective medications to treat these diseases.

The following information is intended to help asthma and allergy sufferers better understand the most common types of drugs. Not intended to be a specific recommendation for treatment. You should consult your personal physician to choose the best treatment plan to control your allergy and asthma.

Antihistamines: If you are allergic, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to treat allergic rhinitis (“hay fever”) and other conditions such as urticaria.

Antihistamines may diminish the effects of histamine (a chemical produced by the body during an allergic reaction). By preventing the action of histamine, allergy symptoms can be reduced. Antihistamines come in liquid, tablet or nasal spray.

Antihistamines are divided into:

* “First-generation sedating” known to cause drowsiness in some people

* “Second-generation nonsedating moderate sedation” are much less likely to cause drowsiness

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