Among diseases of the chronic respiratory system, bronchial asthma comes first. Pathology not only significantly worsens the patient’s life, but also requires regular treatment, because its absence sometimes leads to serious complications and even death of the patient. Doctors know that the disease cannot be completely cured, it is only possible to correct the condition and improve the quality of life. Patients have to use life-long medications for asthma, which can guarantee a familiar lifestyle and stop the severe course of the disease.
How is the disease treated
A completely different mechanism of action in modern drugs against this insidious disease. Due to the fact that it is impossible to completely cure the patient of asthma, a person is forced to constantly observe all the recommendations of a doctor and lead a lifestyle that is necessary to improve his condition. If you follow all the recommendations and use effective medications for asthma, then the number of seizures can be significantly reduced. The main problem that the specialist needs to solve together with the patient is to identify the allergen and stop any contact with it. The doctor also has the following tasks:
- normalize the respiratory function of a person;
- reduce the effects of unpleasant symptoms;
- reduce the amount of medication prescribed to the patient in order to avoid complications with other organs and systems, but without prejudice to health.
In addition to the use of drugs for asthma, it is important for a sick person to follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle and stop smoking.
What can a patient do
The cause of the disease is always an allergen. Therefore, it is necessary to take all measures to eliminate it. It may be necessary to change not only work, but also move to another climatic region to alleviate the condition and improve the quality of life. It is always important for the patient to independently monitor their health and not neglect the breathing exercises that the doctor can recommend. Also, a specialist always explains to a patient with asthma how and when to use a special inhaler.
Medicines used
Asthma medications are a necessary part of its comprehensive treatment. Moreover, their choice should be entirely the responsibility of the doctor, which is based on the severity of the symptoms and the general well-being of the person. At the same time, medications are distinguished by action:
- Emergency. Necessary for the relief of an acute attack. Childhood of such medications manifests itself immediately. The patient's health improves dramatically, breathing normalizes due to the bronchodilating effect. Among these drugs, the most famous are: Berodual, Salbutamol, Atrovent, Berotek.
- Basic. Such drugs include inhalers, antihistamines, corticosteroids, bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe theophyllines and cromons.
The patient needs basic treatment throughout his life, however, it may not be necessary if the disease is mild. The doctor selects drugs for the treatment of asthma individually for each patient and can change them taking into account the manifestation of symptoms and the severity of the pathology.
Degrees of disease
Bronchial asthma can occur with various symptoms. Drugs for asthma are selected taking into account the severity of their manifestation and the degree of disease exposed:
- First one. In this case, basic treatment is usually not required. Only episodic seizures are possible, which must be stopped with bronchodilators. Doctors often recommend the use of Fenoterol, Salbutamol, or Fenoterol.
- The second one. If the second degree of bronchial asthma is exposed , then the use of hormonal drugs for asthma will be required. However, such treatment does not always bring the necessary results, in this case, cromons and theophyllines will be shown. The doctor also prescribes one of the drugs of basic therapy, which will already need to be taken for life. Clucocorticosteroid or antileukotriene may be recommended.
- The third. It is important at this stage of the disease to use combination therapy, which includes bronchodilator drugs and hormones. The treatment will necessarily include two medicines from basic therapy, as well as drugs for asthma relief.
- Fourth. The severity of the disease is the most severe and requires the appointment of theophylline in combination with bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids. Moreover, the drugs are used both in the form of tablets, and in the form of inhalations. A person should already have at home a whole first-aid kit, characteristic of asthma. It must necessarily contain three basic drugs, which include inhaled glucocorticosteroids and beta-adrenergic agonists with a prolonging effect.
Only a specialist will be able to accurately determine the degree of the disease and prescribe all the necessary medicines without compromising the patient’s health.
What drugs are treated for bronchial asthma
The most effective way to relieve seizures is to use inhalers. They are able to alleviate the condition and normalize breathing due to the drug component, which instantly penetrates the respiratory system. An example of such tools is the following:
- "Ingacort";
- Bekotid;
- Benacort
- Fluticasone
- Flixotide
- Budesonide.
However, with asthma, sometimes basic therapy is also required, which is represented by a wide list of drugs. Such drugs are necessary to alleviate the course of the disease and normalize the patient's standard of living. These include the following groups of drugs:
- bronchodilators;
- Cromons
- hormonal;
- expectorant;
- membrane stabilizers;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- antileukotrienes;
- mucolytics;
- antiallergic;
- antibacterial.
A particularly significant place in the list is occupied by bronchodilators, which we will consider further.
Bronchodilator medicines
Requires specific and regular bronchial asthma treatment. Preparations for bronchodilation are necessary to improve breathing and can be used in inhalers and in the form of tablets. The main purpose of such drugs is to expand the lumen of the bronchi, so the attack of suffocation quickly passes. However, you can not use them regularly because sensitive with frequent use drops sharply. As a result, at the time of the attack, such a medication may simply not work, which will provoke the risk of death from suffocation. Next, we consider the main drugs from the group of bronchodilators.
The drug "Salbutamol"
Available in the form of tablets that must be taken daily up to four times. In this case, the daily dose cannot be more than 0.6 mcg per day. Also, "Salbutamol" can be used as a drug for the relief of an asthma attack, but already in the form of a spray. If the medicine is intended for children, then it is necessary to inject 0.1 μg of the spray into the throat at a time. Adults are shown a dosage of 0.2 mcg.
The medicine has a number of contraindications, therefore, only a doctor can do the appointment, who is able to take them into account:
- glaucoma;
- coronary heart disease;
- diabetes;
- pregnancy;
- myocarditis;
- epileptic seizures.
As the reviews of patients and doctors show, the drug copes well with asthma attacks and, subject to the prescribed dosage, does not cause complications. Suitable for both adults and children.
Spiriva based on ipratropium bromide
Drugs for the relief of bronchial asthma should act quickly and have the least amount of side effects. "Spiriva" can be prescribed for adults with acute attacks of suffocation and, judging by the reviews, copes well with its task. For inhalation, 2 μg of spray is required, after which the patient feels significant relief. However, the drug is contraindicated in children, and it should not be used by pregnant women. As patients' reviews show, the remedy is effective, but sometimes it can provoke unpleasant symptoms in the form of urticaria, itching, dizziness, coughing and pharyngeal irritation. Due to the fact that this spray can cause bronchospasm, it is not prescribed for children under 18 years of age.
Theophylline tablets
A rather insidious disease is bronchial asthma. Medicines are necessary to relieve seizures and reduce their repetitions. Among such funds, Theophylline can be noted. It is prescribed in a dosage of 400 mg of active substance per day. If the patient tolerates the medication well, and obvious signs of improvement are visible, then the dosage increases by 25% from the original. However, as practice shows, side effects from taking pills are not uncommon. In addition, there are numerous contraindications, such as: stomach bleeding, stroke, epilepsy, tachyarrhythmia, gastritis, and retinal hemorrhages.
Membrane stabilizers
Treatment of bronchial asthma in adults requires anti-inflammatory therapy . Drugs that affect specialized cells of the immune system are often prescribed. It is human immunity that is responsible for the development of an allergic reaction, on the basis of which an asthma attack develops. To reduce the provocative effect, it is necessary to use membrane stabilizers. Similar drugs are also indicated for the treatment of children, because they effectively eliminate the problem of suffocation.
Inhalation with Nedocromil
Dangerous development of unexpected attacks of bronchial asthma. Treatment with drugs from the category of membrane stabilizers gives a good effect. "Nedokromil" has proven itself well and is allowed to be used in the treatment of children from two years of age. To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to start with two inhalations 2-4 times a day. If attacks have not happened for a long time, then the prophylactic dosage is the same, but only two inhalations are required per day. If contact with a potential allergen is expected, then a single dosage can be doubled. But it must be remembered that for adults, the maximum allowable dosage is eight inhalations per day.
It is known that the drug is well tolerated, children also respond positively. Of the minuses of this medicine, only its value can be distinguished. Side effects are possible, but, as reviews show, they are quite rare. You can find responses about the emerging feeling of nausea, abdominal pain, an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, as well as vomiting.
Cromoglycic acid
It is a powder for inhalation. For one procedure, one capsule is intended, which contains 20 mg of the drug. Usually a procedure is prescribed in the morning, in the evening and two intermediate in the afternoon. The interval between doses can be from 3 to 6 hours. Also, the tool is supplied in the form of a solution for inhalation, which must be carried out 4 times a day.
The drug rarely causes unpleasant symptoms. You may find mention of dry mouth, dizziness, headache, hoarseness, and coughing. There are also few contraindications. The drug is prohibited only during pregnancy, lactation and in children under two years of age.
Glucocorticosteroids
Preparations for the relief of an attack of bronchial asthma are fundamental in the treatment of patients. To prevent a state of suffocation, the doctor prescribes hormonal substances that have an anti-allergic effect and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Attacks are not repeated, because swelling of the bronchial mucosa goes away and the effect of the allergen is neutralized. The following drugs deserved good reviews.
The medicine "beclomethasone"
It is possible to use the drug for the treatment of adult patients and children after the age of six. Patients over 18 years of age are supposed to have a dosage of 100 mcg. The product is used 3-4 times a day. For children, the dosage is less and is 50 mcg. The medicine involves intrazonal use when the drug is administered into the nasal passages.
The drug has good tolerance, and the effectiveness is very high, as evidenced by numerous reviews. Negative phenomena rarely bother the patient and usually occur in sneezing, hoarseness and coughing.
Hormonal Prednisolone
The tool refers to hormonal, therefore, has multiple contraindications, and adverse reactions from use are not uncommon. Therefore, the medicine is prescribed only for acute indications and after using other drugs that are less harmful to the body, which did not give a positive effect.
Other recommended remedies
Preparations for an attack of bronchial asthma involve the use of multiple drugs. Only a doctor can assess the need for their use and together with the patient determine the effectiveness. Anti-asthma drugs of the new generation include anti-leukotrienes. They have antihistaminic and anti-inflammatory properties. The following types of medications may be recommended:
- Zafirlukast. It is possible to use only from the age of twelve. The initial dosage is 40 mg, which must be divided into two doses. Of course, the drug can provoke urticaria, headache and increased liver activity, but if used correctly, it shows high effectiveness in stopping asthma attacks.
- Montelukast. It is used to treat adults and children in standard doses of 10 and 5 mg, respectively. Among the most typical complaints during administration, headache, dizziness, indigestion are distinguished. During pregnancy and under the age of two years, the drug is contraindicated.
Bronchial asthma is a serious illness that requires constant therapy and a good lifestyle. However, doctors have learned to monitor the patient’s condition by prescribing modern medicines.