Inhaled Medications for Asthma
The best way to administer medicines to treat asthma is inhaled. They have introduced many different devices in recent decades to allow asthmatics of all ages to use inhaled medications to help control your breathing problem.
The main advantages of inhaled medications are: (1) direct administration to the point causing the problem (the bronchi and bronchioles that lead to the lungs) and (2) the lack of side effects related to drugs given systemically (usually orally).
Inhaled Medication Types
They are available in inhaled four types of asthma medications:1. Beta2 agonist bronchodilators, which are most commonly used. These include albuterol, bitolterol, pirbutero, and terbutaline, which are used as medicines "rescue" to relieve asthma attacks. These inhalants can be utilized in excess, the use of more than one bottle per month is cause for concern. Salmeterol is a bronchodilator new long-acting beta2 agonist that is used to maintain control as asthma.
2. The Ipratropium is an anticholinergic bronchodilator.
3. Inhaled corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples include beclomethasone, budesonide (expected to be approved soon for use in the U.S.), flunisolide, fluticasone and triamcinolone.
4. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as cromolyn and nedocromil.
Types of Devices for Inhalation
There are three basic types of devices used to administer inhaled drugs. The most common of these is the metered dose inhaler (MDI). All medications listed are available with IDM.Nebulizers are often used for infants and young children with asthma and in patients with acute disease of all ages. These devices administer medication droplets using oxygen or air under pressure. Currently available in the U.S. for nebulization albuterol, ipratropium, cromoglycate, budesonide.
Inhalers are used to administer cromolyn rotation, and are currently used for inhaled albuterol. A similar device has been tested in the U.S. for inhalation of budesonide and will be available soon. Most inhaled medications for asthma are obtained in this way as the government is concerned about the environmental effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used as agents in most MDIs.
Spacers and Cameras
Many young children and some adults have trouble coordinating inhalation with the firing of a metered dose inhaler (MDI). These patients may prefer to use a spacer. Studies show that a higher percentage of the drug is deposited in the lower respiratory tract, instead of the throat after the use of an MDI with a large volume spacer. Those chambers and support one-way valves to prevent the escape of medicament have the advantage of allowing the asthmatic breathing pace closer while inhaling is effective doses of medicine. At least one version of a large volume spacer chamber and a valve is available with a mask that comes in three sizes for infants, children and adults.Proper Training Needed
All metered-dose inhaler (MDI) have instructions. It is very important to follow these instructions carefully. Individuals with asthma and / or their caretakers should ask the physician to prescribe them to give them a demonstration of specific WDR is used. This must be done again at the pharmacy if necessary. It shall review the technical monitoring visits. IDM types used to administer albuterol, beclomethasone, cromolyn, fluticasone, ipratropium, nedocromil, salmeterol and terbutaline are all very similar. The following instructions apply to all these inhalers:(1) Shake the inhaler well immediately before each use.
(2) Remove the mouthpiece cover. If no cap, check the nozzle opening it to see if there is any foreign objects before each use.
(3) Make sure the pot is not empty remembering how many puffs have been administered. A manufacturer includes a "sprays Checker" on patient indications. There is also market a device that the patient can insert into your inhaler to record the number of puffs applied. For maintenance medications taken daily, you can divide the number of inhalations per boat (written on the boat and / or patient information that comes with the medicine) by the number of daily sprays to calculate how many days it will last and when to change your IDM. The immersion method widely used is probably very little accurate to trust him.
(4) Check the spray the inhaler before using for the first time or have not been used in more than four weeks. (No need to do it after every time I go to use).
(5) Exhale through your mouth to empty the lungs.
(6) Place the mouthpiece in your mouth, leaving the tongue below. Alternatively, the inhaler can be placed at 1 or 2 inches away from the open mouth.
(7) While breathing in deeply and slowly through your mouth, press down firmly and fully on top of the metal canister with your index finger.
(8) Continue to inhale all you can and try to hold your breath for 5-10 seconds. Before breathing out, remove the inhaler from your mouth and remove your finger from the bottle.
(9) Wait 30-60 seconds and shake the inhaler again. Repeat these steps for each inhalation prescribed by your doctor.
(10) Place the cover instead of the nozzle after each use.
(11) Clean the inhaler thoroughly and frequently. Remove the metal canister and cleanse the plastic case and cover with hot tap water rinsing at least once a day. Do not soak metal cans containing cromolyn and nedocromil. After thoroughly drying the plastic case and cap, put in place the pot gently by rotating and replace the cap.
(12) Discard the canister after you have used the labeled number of inhalations. No one can be sure of the correct amount of medication after this point.
Note: MDI used for administering bitolterol, pilbuterol, and triamcinolone are somewhat different from the other. It is very important to follow the specific instructions including these inhalers. The spacers and tubes that are in commerce also come with instructions that modify in any way the instructions mentioned. To "rest assured" get specific training for each prescribed inhalers.
Using Nebulizers
Many nebulizers on the market. The most expensive are laptops with features like lightweight size, battery packs and adapters for use in automobiles. But even less expensive nebulizers administered in an effective drugs for asthma in fine droplets through masks of different sizes for infants to adults, through T-tubes or nozzle adapters. Nebulized medications for asthma are especially useful in infants, young children and some elderly patients who can not use an MDI, even with an air mask. It is also often useful in older children and adults to help reverse acute asthma attack.Again, proper training is necessary. This can be provided by clinic staff or the doctor who prescribed nebulized therapy. This training is often provided by medical supply companies that equip nebulizers. Your staff will go to the patient's home to deliver the nebulizer and train.
