Asthma Medication

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• QHow do medications help control asthma?

  4 Answers

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  A RealAge answered

  Doctors prescribe long-term-control medications to help prevent asthma symptoms. Regularly using these medications also helps preserve lung function. Several classes of long-term-control medications are available.

  • Corticosteroids decrease inflammation in the airways, reducing the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. Most people with asthma take inhaled corticosteroids, which are delivered with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Inhaled corticosteroids are considered much safer than oral steroids because they go directly into the lungs.
  • Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) are used to relax muscles in your airways, which helps keep them open. LABAs should only be prescribed along with other long-term-control medications because using them alone could potentially make your symptoms worse.
  • Leukotriene modifiers interfere with reactions in the body that cause asthma symptoms. These medications reduce swelling in the lungs and reduce airway tightening. They also help prevent mucus buildup. Generally, these medications are very safe, but rarely they can cause mood and behavior changes in some people.
  • Other medications that are used less frequently for asthma include cromolyn, an inhaled medication that helps prevent inflammation and theophylline, an oral medication that relaxes and opens airways.

  Even with long-term-control medication, asthma flare-ups may occur from time to time. So, it's important to have a quick-relief medication on hand as well. Short-acting beta agonists (SABAs) are quick-relief medications that treat active symptoms. These inhaled medications help relax and open airways.

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• QWhen should I use quick-relief asthma medications?

  1 Answer

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  • Use when you first notice asthma symptoms. Quick-relief medication can stop an asthma flare-up from getting worse.
  
  • Use before you encounter one of your asthma triggers. For example, if exercise is a trigger for you, your doctor may recommend taking quick-relief  medication before you play or work out.
• QHow do quick-relief medications control asthma?

  3 Answers

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  A RealAge answered

  Asthma medications fall into one of two main groups: long-term asthma control medications, which are usually taken daily to prevent symptoms, and quick-relief or rescue medications, which are used to treat asthma attacks.
  
  Quick-relief (rescue) medications include:
  

  • Short-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators: This treatment relaxes the smooth muscle around the airways and quickly relieves acute-attack symptoms and is also used to help prevent exercise-induced asthma.
  • Anticholinergics: These medicines, more commonly used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), help relax airways and may be used in addition to or instead of short-acting beta2-agonists.
  • Oral corticosteroids: Steroids help prevent swelling of the airways and reduce mucus in the lungs. Along with being used to control severe asthma that does not respond to other treatment, oral steroids may help rescue medicines work better. Your doctor may prescribe a short course of oral steroids during flare-ups.

  If you are not sure how to use an inhaler or another delivery device, ask your pharmacist to show you. In order for your medication to be the most effective, you need to take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. And see your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening asthma symptoms.

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• QHow do I know if I have the best asthma medication?

  1 Answer

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  A Intermountain Registered Dietitians , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  Do you use quick-relief medication more than 2 times a week to stop asthma flare-ups? This may be a sign that your treatment plan isn’t working. Talk to your doctor.
• QWhat is a nebulizer?

  1 Answer

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  A Dr. Heath A. Cobb, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of Intermountain Healthcare

  A nebulizer uses forced air to turn asthma medication into a fine mist so that it can easily be breathed into the lungs. For some people -- and with some medications -- nebulizers are the most effective way of delivering inhaled medications.
  
  A nebulizer consists of the following components:
  
  • a compressed air machine
  
  • a medication cup to contain the medication
  
  • thin plastic tubing that connects the medication cup to the compressed air machine
  
  • a facemask or mouthpiece used to breathe in the mist
  
  Using a nebulizer with either a facemask or a mouthpiece and following directions will help ensure that you or your child receive as much of the medication as possible.
• QHow does a small volume nebulizer deliver asthma medication?

  1 Answer

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  A American Red Cross answered

  Small-volume nebulizers deliver medication in the form of a mist. The mist is delivered over several minutes. This is especially helpful when the person is unable to take deep breaths.
  
  Nebulizers are commonly used for children younger than 5 years and the elderly. They also are used for people who have trouble using inhalers and for those with severe asthma.
  
• QHow do long-term control medications control asthma?

  3 Answers

  A

  

  A RealAge answered

  Asthma medications fall into one of two main groups: long-term asthma control medications, which are usually taken daily to prevent symptoms, and quick-relief or rescue medications, which are used to treat asthma attacks.
  
  Long-term control medications include:

  • Inhaled corticosteroids: These strong anti-inflammatory medicines reduce airway inflammation and are considered an effective medication for persistent asthma.
  • Mast cell stabilizers: Medicines like cromolyn and nedocromil are inhaled medications that keep mast cells from releasing inflammatory substances. They can be used prior to exposure to known triggers, especially exercise, cold air and allergens.
  • Long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators (LABAs): These medicines relax the smooth muscle around the bronchial tubes and widen the airways. LABAs should not be used alone and are often administered along with an inhaled corticosteroid. Their effects may last up to 12 hours.
  • Theophylline: Theophylline relaxes the airways and decreases inflammation but is not considered a first-choice asthma medication. It is often used along with an inhaled corticosteroid. Blood levels need to be monitored while taking it.
  • Leukotriene modifiers: This fairly new class of asthma medication prevents airway constriction by blocking leukotrienes -- chemicals in the body involved in inflammation. The medication is sometimes used alone or along with an inhaled corticosteroid. Use of this medication requires monitoring of liver function with blood tests.
  • Combination inhalers: These medications combine a long-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilator with an inhaled corticosteroid for better symptom control.
  • Anti-IgE therapy: Anti-IgE therapy is used to treat allergic asthma. It works by preventing IgE (an antibody produced in the body) from sticking to other cells and causing an allergic reaction.

  If you are not sure how to use an inhaler or another delivery device, ask your pharmacist to show you. In order for your medication to be the most effective, you need to take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. And see your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening asthma symptoms.

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• QHow is asthma medication delivered?

  1 Answer

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  A American Red Cross answered

  

  The most common way to take long-term control and quick-relief asthma medications is by inhaling them. Inhalation allows the medication to reach the airways faster and work quickly. There also are fewer side effects. Medications are inhaled using a metered dose inhaler (MDI), a dry powder inhaler (DPI) or a small-volume nebulizer.
  
  
  
  Both long-term and quick-relief medications also are available in pill and liquid form. Long-term medications are also available in the form of an injection given just under the skin.
  
  

  
• QWhat is Breo Ellipta?

  1 Answer

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  A RealAge answered

  Breo Ellipta is an inhaled medication used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two medications to help breathing: a corticosteroid (which reduces inflammation in the airways and makes them less likely to spasm), and a long-acting bronchodilator (which relaxes the airways). Breo Ellipta comes as a dry powder inhaler that you use once a day. It comes in two different strengths, called 100/25 or 200/25.
   
  Breo Ellipta is meant to be used daily to control asthma or COPD symptoms, such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and to prevent flare-ups. It’s not a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. It’s approved only for adults age 18 and older.