Management of Asthma Medicine

It's sad to say that there’s no cure for asthma, right now. But, you don’t have to be worried dearly, as some asthma symptoms that you have can be improved by the right asthma management. The right asthma management usually can be carried out with a customized asthma management plan. This management plan specifically can be used to monitor and manage asthma symptoms proactively. It is advised to create and write it down. This management plan is advised to be matched with the changes of symptoms which asthma sufferers have. Of course, it would be better to include the management in reducing the allergens exposure, testing to assess and evaluate the severity of asthma symptoms, and planning the right usage of asthma medications.

Medications Management for Asthma Treatment

For the best treatment, asthma must be managed by the right medications. Medications which are used to manage and treat asthma are actually divided in two common classification. The type of medications which are used to manage in treating acute asthma symptoms are quick-relief medications, or known as fast-acting medications. For preventing further exacerbation in asthma sufferers, long-term control of asthma medications are recommended to use. Other than that two classification of medications, antibiotics may be given, but usually they aren’t needed in general when the symptoms are worsening suddenly.

Fast–acting Asthma Medications

SABA, known as short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists medication, is one common example of the quick-relief medications for asthma. This fast-acting medicines usually comes in the form of salbutamol. People may know it as albuterol USAN. In medicinal terminology, it is also called Salbutamol metered dose inhaler. This medication has been known as the first line type of asthma treatment. It is commonly used by many people to manage and treat asthma attacks and asthma symptoms. To get the best effect, this medication is recommended to be taken before any exercises or activities which usually can induce the asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.

Anticholinergic medications can also provide many additional benefits for asthma sufferers when it is used in the right combination with other medication, like SABA. Of course, usually it is advised to take this when you are managing to treat moderate type or severe type of asthma symptoms. For your information, usually this type of medication is coming in the form as ipratropium bromide and anticholinergic bronchodilators. But, when the asthma sufferer is a child, usually they don’t need additional ipratropium bromide as it doesn’t have any effect to help in overall SABA medications. Other case will need asthma sufferers to take anticholinergic bronchodilators if the person can’t tolerate a SABA medication.

Adrenergic agonists, like inhaled epinephrine, also become one of the type of fast-acting medication for asthma. This medication is known with its ability to have the same efficacy to SABA medications. But, keep in your mind that they aren’t recommended taking because of their association regarding excessive stimulation for the heart.

Asthma Medications in Long–term Control

Medication which has been commonly well-known with its effect as the most effective management plan in asthma treatment in long-term control is corticosteroids. This type of medication can be in two forms, which are inhaled form and oral form. Inhaled forms of corticosteroids usually comes in beclomethasone. This type of medicine is used often by much asthma sufferer. People with asthma usually use this medication once, or maybe twice in a day, as it depends on the condition of asthma symptoms that they have. The severity really matters. Except, when there’s a case of severe persistent disease that following the asthma symptoms, the asthma sufferer is recommended to take corticosteroids until it’s needed.

LABA medication, or called as long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists, is another example of this long-term control asthma medications. This type of medication usually comes in the form of formoterol and salmeterol. At least for adult, both of them are believed to help in improving asthma control when they are taken as an additional combination of drug with the inhaled form of corticosteroids. Sadly, until now, the advantage of this medication is still uncertain for children. Maybe, it is due to its side-effects. When both of the medicines are taken without the use of steroids, there is a possibility that there will be an increasing risk of the happening of severe side-effects. Even when people already advised to take it with corticosteroids, there is still a possibility that the risk is increasing.

Another medication in this classification is leukotriene receptor antagonists. This medication is also a typical long-term control asthma medications, aside of LABA. Like LABA, it is also used as an additional medication in combination in taking the inhaled corticosteroids. Montelukast and zafirlukast may be the two choices of this type of medications which are commonly used. Sadly, there are still insufficient evidence that can support the use of this medication in acute exacerbation.

A similar drug which has been classified in the same class of leukotriene receptor antagonists drugs is also needed in this asthma management. Right now, known as 5-LOX inhibitors, this medication have a possibility to act as the perfect alternative drug to manage and treat asthma attack in older children and adult. This type of medication is usually known to take as a treatment for chronic asthma sufferers, which are having a mild type to moderate type of asthma attacks. In 2013, the name of this medication has spread all over the world. Even now, one type of drug which is classified in this medication family which is called zileuton has been used all over the world.

Another drug that can be your alternative choice when you can’t take corticosteroids is mast cell stabilizers. Cromolyn sodium is one of the type of this medication, even though this mast cell stabilizers medications are actually had not been preferred by many.

Management of Delivery Methods of Asthma Medications

Asthma medications are usually provided in the form of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). Typically, it is coming in combination with other asthma medication, such as an asthma spacer. But, there are a possibility that it is coming as a dry powder inhaler. As for asthma spacer, it is coming in the form of a plastic cylinder which mixes the asthma medication with air. Thus, it makes asthma sufferer receive a rightfully full perfect dose of the asthma drug in easy way.

Other than that, to deliver the asthma medications, people also can use nebulizer. Nebulizers and spacers are known to be equally effective. Specially when you use it to manage ans treat in asthma sufferers which have mild to moderate symptoms. However, there are still insufficient evidences that can prove if there are a significant difference which is exists when you use both of the tools in asthma sufferers with severe disease.

Adverse Effects in Taking Asthma Medication

There hasn’t been any report that stated about the adverse effect of fast-acting asthma medications. But, long-term control asthma medications have many adverse and side effects report. For example, even at conventional doses, long-term use of inhaled form of corticosteroids has believed to carry a minor risk of the increasing adverse effects. This adverse effect risks include the possibility of the development of cataracts in asthma sufferers, also a mild regression in their stature.