 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Asthma medicinesThis factsheet is for people who would like information about taking asthma medicines. Asthma medicines are used to control or prevent the symptoms of asthma. They are normally taken as inhalers (also known as "puffers").
Why would I take them?Your doctor may prescribe these medicines if you have asthma or other respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For more information please, see the separate BUPA health factsheets, Asthma in children, Asthma in adults and COPD. What are the main types?There are two main types of inhaler. These are:
How do asthma medicines work?The main relievers are called selective beta2 adrenoreceptor agonists (or beta2 agonists for short). They work by opening up the airways inside the lungs, which become narrowed during an asthma attack. The main preventers are the corticosteroids (or inhaled steroids for short). These work by reducing swelling in the airways, and so preventing the airways from narrowing and causing asthma symptoms. Beta2 agonistsThese work by copying the effects of natural substances - adrenaline and noradrenaline - produced in the body. These substances are chemical messengers that the body produces as part of the "fight or flight" reaction. They prepare the body for exercise or a stressful situation. One of their effects is to open up the airways (bronchodilation) so that more air can reach the lungs. Inhaled steroidsThese work by reducing the hypersensitivity of the airway to irritants such as pollen, animal hair and cold air. This eases the swelling and narrowing of the airways, and also reduces the amount of mucus produced in the lungs. Inhalers that contain a combination of a beta2 agonist and a steroid or another asthma medicine are also available. How to use asthma medicinesAsthma medicines come as inhalers, also known as "puffers". They are also available as tablets, syrups, nebuliser solutions and injections for treating more severe asthma. Beta2 agonists and inhaled steroids are usually taken through an inhaler. Beta2 agonists usually come as blue or green inhalers and inhaled steroids normally come as brown, orange or red inhalers. These come in different doses per puff, and with different mechanisms for releasing the dose. Normally you take one or two puffs at a time. You probably need an inhaled steroid if you need to use a reliever more than once a day. They are not used to treat an asthma attack, but they can prevent them. Regular use of an inhaled steroid can prevent some of the long-term changes to the lungs caused by repeated asthma attacks and so help to maintain your lung function. To get the full benefit of your asthma medicines, follow your doctor's advice about how to use your inhaler(s) carefully. For instance, inhaled steroids must be used every day, even if you don't have symptoms, for them to work properly. It can be quite tricky to co-ordinate breathing in and "firing" your inhaler. Your doctor or specialist asthma nurse will show you how to use your inhaler(s) properly, and will also check your technique from time-to-time. A spacer device can be used with an inhaler to make it easier to inhale the medicine. A spacer is a long tube that clips onto the inhaler. At the other end of the tube is a mouthpiece to breathe in and out of. A spacer can make using an inhaler easier because it enables you to activate the inhaler, then inhale, in two separate steps. Using a spacer also reduces the risk of getting a sore throat from using a steroid inhaler. It is useful for children or for people with sore hands who find handling the inhaler difficult. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. Side-effectsBeta2 agonistsMost people who take Beta2 agonists don't have any problems. Possible side-effects include:
Rare, but more serious, side-effects include:
You can reduce the side-effects by rinsing your mouth out and gargling with water after using your inhaler. You should not swallow this water. Inhaled steroidsSome people worry about the idea of taking steroids - possibly because of the stories about steroids misused by athletes, or because of side-effects (eg osteoporosis) that can come from taking large doses of steroids by mouth for long periods of time. The doses of inhaled steroids that doctors most commonly prescribe are much less likely to cause problems because they are delivered directly to the lungs, with minimal amounts getting into the bloodstream. They can give you a husky or hoarse voice, which should ease off with time. They can also give you a sore throat due to a fungal infection - this unpleasant side-effect is one of the downsides of using an inhaler. You can help prevent this by gargling with water after using your inhaler, or using a spacer (see How to use asthma inhalers) to help reduce the amount of the drug that lands in your throat. Other side-effects include a slightly increased risk of glaucoma, an eye condition caused by a build-up of pressure in the eye. If you need inhaled steroids at high doses, you will be given a "steroid card" to carry with you at all times saying what medicine you are taking. Although inhaled steroids don't seem to slow down children's growth in the same way as oral steroids do, children taking inhaled steroids will still need to have their height monitored regularly. Interactions with other medicinesCheck with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any other medicines or herbal remedies at the same time as your asthma medicine. Names of common asthma medicinesExamples of common asthma medicines are shown in the table. The generic name is the chemical name of a medicine. If a manufacturer has rights over a medicinal compound, it is given a brand name. Often there is more than one brand name associated with a generic name. Generic names are normally written with a lower-case initial letter and brand names normally start with an upper-case letter.
Further information
Sources
Published by BUPA's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, February 2007.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Print-friendly version [opens in a new window]](/images/icons/icn_printer.gif){kind=icon}
Inspiratory muscle training to increase lung capacity for asthma sufferers
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
|||||
| ||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|