The quality of life of people who suffer from bronchial asthma leaves much to be desired. Properly selected therapy will help to significantly alleviate the patient's condition. It will reduce the intensity and frequency of exacerbations. An integral part of treatment is drugs, the mechanism of action of which not only stops an asthmatic attack, but also reduces the risk of its development.
A fairly large assortment of anti-asthma drugs and drugs offers the pharmacological industry, however, the attending physician always remains the choice of any medicine. It takes into account the individual characteristics of each patient, clinical signs, frequency and severity of attacks.
Therapy of bronchial asthma
All anti-asthma drugs are divided into two main types: emergency care during an attack (symptomatic therapy); medications to control the disease (basic therapy). To begin with, symptomatic therapy will be considered.
Symptomatic therapy
It consists in the use of drugs that can stop asthma attacks: shortness of breath, suffocation, wheezing, dry cough. Bronchodilators are first-aid drugs for asthma. They are divided into three types:
- beta 2 agonists;
- xanthines;
- anticholinergics.
With exacerbation, drugs from the beta 2-agonist group are used. They are able to alleviate the condition of the patient during the attack period, act almost immediately. There are both long and short action. Long-acting medicines include: Formoterol, Salmeterol. To short-acting drugs - "Berotek", "Ventolin", "Fenoterol", "Salbutamol". Release form: a pocket metered-dose inhaler.
With intolerance to beta 2-agonists, cholinolytics can be prescribed to the patient. They act more slowly, but in order to stop an asthmatic attack, the result gives a good one. Anticholinergics include: Atrovent, Platyphyllin, Atropine, Belloid, Troventol. They are available in the form of a metered aerosol or ampoules for injection.
Basic therapy
Basic therapy consists in taking medications that treat asthma, prevent the development of acute attacks, and improve the quality of life. They are intended for daily use. The use of such drugs reduces bronchial edema, relieves the inflammatory process formed in the respiratory tract, reduces susceptibility to certain allergens. The basic drugs include:
- antihistamines;
- corticosteroids;
- antileukotriene preparations;
- Cromons
- glucocorticosteroids;
- adrenomimetics.
Antihistamines
Antiallergic drugs are an integral part of the treatment of bronchial asthma, as it often has an allergic origin. Basically, the doctor prescribes a new generation of anti-asthma drugs that last for twenty-four hours. These drugs are able to suppress the release of histamine, block increased susceptibility to allergens: Cetrin, Erius, Claritin.
Corticosteroids
For the treatment of severe and moderate stages of bronchial asthma, drugs belonging to the group of corticosteroids are used. These drugs reduce shortness of breath, obstruction of the bronchi, can be used to stop the attack. They relate to hormonal, have a lot of contraindications. Therefore, some of these anti-asthma drugs are not sold over the counter. Corticosteroids include: Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone.
Antileukotriene preparations
This group of drugs eliminates bronchospasm caused by inflammatory processes that occur in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. They supplement the main treatment, they are used for a sufficiently long period. These drugs include: "Zafirlukast", "Zileuton", "Montelukast".
Cromones
This is a group of drugs that contain carboxylic acid. Medicines based on this substance reduce the production of mast cells, thereby eliminating the bronchospasm that has arisen. Such funds are not used during an exacerbation, but only in basic therapy: "Ketotifen", "Ketoprofen", "Intal".
Glucocortisteroids
These drugs have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, contribute to the discharge of sputum, reduce swelling, relieve inflammation. Due to the large number of side effects, drugs of this type are used only as prescribed by a doctor: Becklement, Ingakort, Bekotid, Pulmicort.
Andrenomimetics
The action of drugs of this group is directed to the expansion of the bronchi. For twelve hours, the effect of the use of drugs lasts. Such drugs are intended for long-term use, since the result of their action will be noticeable only after a while. These include: "Spiropent", "Saltos", "Foradil."
Since basic therapy is designed for long-term use, the patient is forced to take some anti-asthma drugs throughout his life. It is very important that the recommended doses are observed while taking any drug. You can’t cancel the appointment yourself or prescribe yourself a new remedy without consulting a doctor. If the therapy is selected correctly, you can control bronchial asthma.
Modern methods of asthma treatment can improve the quality of life and reduce the frequency of seizures. Unfortunately, it is completely impossible to cure this ailment, but with all the recommendations of the doctor, taking all the prescribed anti-asthma drugs, the prognosis of the disease will improve several times.