General Nursing©

ASTHMA

Drug treatment falls into two distinctive groups:

• SHORT-ACTING DRUGS - For immediate relief. These include short-acting beta-2 agonists and anticholinergics
• LONG-ACTING DRUGS - For long-term control. These include long-acting beta-2 agonists, anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, antiallergy medications such as antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers, and xanthines
• (In special cases, an oral corticosteroid may also be used as a short, intensive form of treatment)

A severe attack may require a quick-acting bronchodilator (sometimes by injection for immediate relief) followed by a course of an anti-inflammatory agent to control the condition.

Antiallergy medications act with the body's own immune system to prevent the reaction from occurring. They cannot, however, stop the reaction once it has started.

Medication:

All drugs can be grouped together by how they work (i.e., their specific mode of action).

Always consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the medication you have been prescribed.

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