|
|
Types of Asthma
Medication
There are two main categories of
asthma drugs: short-term, quick-relief medications that relieve
asthma symptoms, and long-term controller medications that are used
every day by people with persistent asthma, even when they feel fine.
About Symptoms
Wasserman, who works with The Dallas
Asthma Consortium, says the organization advises consumers with "The
Rules of Two": If you take your quick-relief inhaler more than two times
a week, if you wake up with asthma more than two times a month, or if
you refill your quick-relief inhaler more than two times a year, the
group recommends that two medicines for asthma are needed and that you
should talk with your doctor about a long-term controller. |
Montelukast is used to prevent
asthma symptoms. It works by blocking the action of substances that
cause inflammation, fluid retention, mucous secretion, and constriction
in your lungs. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses;
ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. How should this
medicine be used?
Montelukast comes as a tablet and as a chewable tablet to take by
mouth. It is usually taken once a day in the evening. Follow the
directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or
pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Montelukast
exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more
often than prescribed by your doctor.
Montelukast controls asthma but does not cure it. Continue to take
montelukast even if you feel well. Do not stop taking montelukast
without talking to your doctor. Montelukast
Sodium is the main ingredient in Cingulair
For Asthma.
Asthma Medication cont..
Short-term asthma reliever
medication refers to short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists such as
albuterol and pirbuterol. Beta-2 agonists, also known as
bronchodilators, relax the muscles surrounding the airways. In addition,
systemic corticosteroids, such as prednisone and prednisolone, are drugs
that help relieve the inflammation or swelling in the airway. Taken in
tablet or syrup form, they are often used to treat severe asthma
attacks.
As for long-term controller asthma medication, inhaled
corticosteroids are the most consistently effective. Other long-term
controller medications include long-acting beta-agonists, which are used
in addition to inhaled steroids. Examples of long-acting beta-agonists
are salmeterol and formoterol. Cromolyn sodium, nedocromil, and
methylxanthines are also in the controller anti-inflammatory category.
Another class of long-term controller drugs is called anti-leukotriene
medication, and examples include Singulair (montelukast) and Accolate (zafirlukast).
These drugs block the action of chemicals called leukotrienes, which are
involved in the development of asthma.
In June 2003, the FDA approved Xolair (omalizumab), the first
biotechnology product to treat people 12 years and older who have
moderate-to-severe allergy-related asthma. The product, which is
given as an injection under the skin, is a second-line treatment,
recommended only after first-line treatments have failed.
National guidelines on managing asthma now recommend that inhaled
corticosteroids are the preferred first-line treatment for people of all
ages with persistent asthma. (See "NIH Updates Asthma Guidelines.")
Developed by an expert panel of the National Asthma Education and
Prevention Program (NAEPP), the guidelines also recommend that if
inhaled corticosteroids are not achieving optimal control, dual-control
therapy should be used. "We're advising doctors that if inhaled
corticosteroids are not proving effective, before increasing the dose,
add a long-acting beta-2 agonist," says James Kiley, Ph.D., director of
the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI.
Badrul Chowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., acting director of the FDA's Division of
Pulmonary and Allergy Drug Products, says significant advances in asthma
drugs include the approval of Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol) in
2000. "This drug might improve adherence because you don't have to go
between two drugs," Chowdhury says. It's the first drug approved by the
FDA that combines an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting
bronchodilator in one device, which has a built-in counter that tracks
the number of doses. Chowdhury says also significant is the recent FDA
approval of the inhaled corticosteroid Pulmicort (budesonide) for
children as young as 1 and the approval of Xolair (omalizmab) in 2003.
New link:
Probiotics Reduce Infections
DETOXATRIM Diet Pill |