Asthma Medication Information

 

Brief About Asthma Medication

Bronchial asthma is a bronchial hypersensitivity disorder characterized by variable dyspnoea due to widespread airway obstruction, which is reversible spontaneously or as a result of treatment. In addition, moist asthmatics show increased bronchial irritability in response to changes in atmospheric conditions and other trigger factors including allergens.

Sympathomimetics 
Adrenaline has powerful bronchodilator action. It acts both on the alpha and beta-receptors, and in addition to bronchodilatation, it produces vasoconstriction and cardiac stimulation. It has a short duration of action, and the maximum potential for harmful cardiac effects.

Ephedrine 
Ephedrine resembles adrenaline, and stimulates both alpha and beta-receptors. In addition, it stimulates the release of noradrenalin from the sympathetic nerve endings. It is readily and completely absorbed after oral or parenteral administration.

Isoprenaline has a powerful effect on beta-receptors and almost no action on alpha-receptors. As it stimulates both beta-and beta-receptors, in addition to producing bronchodilation. It increases the heart rate and cardiac output.

Salbutamol is probably the most widely used beta-receptor stimulant. It is effective or oral, intravenous and aerosol inhalation routes of administration, and has a much longer duration of action than Isoprenaline. It is virtually devoid of cardiovascular effects in usual doses.

Salmeterol 
Salmeterol is a longer-acting beta2- receptor agonist. It is about 50 times more selective than Salbutamol as a beta-agonist.

Treatment Of Acute Asthma Attack

In the treatment of the acute attack some authorities still advocate the use of subcutaneous adrenaline, while others advocate Salbutamol inhalation. Respiratory infection is to be treated by antibiotics.

Corticosteroids in Bronchial Asthma: The glucocorticoids and their synthetic analogues have an established place in the treatment of bronchial asthma. They are life-saving in an acute attack or status asthmaticus.