Medications for Asthma
Medications used in the treatment of asthma may be divided in to two categories: long term control medications and quick-relieve medications.
Long term control medications to keep symptoms and attacks from starting and thus keep persistent asthma under control, include anti-inflammatory agents
(i.e. corticosteroid cromolyn sodium [Intal], nedocromil [Tilade] and leukotriene modifiers) and long-acting bronchodilators. A. Long term control medications
Prevents and suppresses
activation and migration of inflammatory cells, reduces airway swelling, Mucous production, and micro vascular leakage, increases responsiveness of smooth muscle beta-receptors.
- Inhaled :
- Beclomethasone : Beclovent
Vanceril
Becotide inhaler.
- Budesonide: Pulmicort Turbuhaler
- Flunisolide
- Fluticasone: Flovent inhaler
Flixotide inhaler
- Triamcinolone
- Tablets or Syrups:
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Methylprednisolone
2.Sodium cromoglycate(anti-inflammatory agent)
Inhibits activation of, and mediator release from inflammatory cells.
- Intal 5 inhaler
- Intal nebuliser solution
3.Leukotriene modifiers(an-inflammatory agent)
Inhibits the early-and late-phase asthmatic response to allergens.
- Singulair Tab
- Singulair Chewable Tab
4.Long-acting beta 2-agonists(bronchodilator)
Opens airways by relaxing airway smooth muscle, enhancing mucociliary clearance, and decreasingVascular permeability.
- Inhale :
- Salmeterol:
- Serevent inhaler
- Serevent accuhaler
- Formoterol
Sustained release tablets:
5.Sustained release theophyllline (bronchodilator)
Uncertain anti-inflammatory effect inhibits early and late reactions to allergens.
- Theo-dur Tab
- Uni-Dur Extended-release Tab/ Unidur SR Tab
B. Quick-relief medications
Include short-acting beta2agonists, anticholinergics and systemic corticosteroid that act quickly to relieve
airway constriction and acute symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, and wheezing. The quick-relief medications are known as "Rescue medication"
1.Short-acting beta2 agonists (bronchodilator)
Opens airways by relaxing airway smooth muscle, enhancing mucociliary clearance, and decreasing vascular permeability.
- Albuterol: Ventolin inhaler
Ventolin Resp. soln
- Bitolterol
- Fenoterol
- Isoetharine.
- Metaproterenol
- Pibuterol
- Terbutaline: Bricanyl Inhaler
Terbualine turbuhaler
2.Anticholinergics (bronchodilator)
Reduces vagal to airway. Slow onset of action than betta2-agonists
- Ipratropium bromide: Atrovent Metered dose inhailer
Combivent Metered aerosol
Oxitropium bromide
- Short-acting theophylline
- Epinephrine / adrenaline injection
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