What are the main medicines used to treat asthma and how do they work?
Q: What are the main medicines used to treat asthma and how do they work?
A: The main types of reliever medicines are called short-acting selective beta2 adrenoreceptor agonists (or short-acting beta2 agonists for short), such as salbutamol. These work by copying the effects of natural substances – adrenaline and noradrenaline – produced in the body. These substances are chemical messengers that the body produces as part of the 'fight or flight' reaction (that is, they prepare the body for exercise or a stressful situation).
One of their effects is to open up the airways (bronchodilation) so that more air can reach the lungs. They work within 30 minutes of taking them and the effects last for three to five hours. Long-acting beta2 agonists take longer to work but the effects can last up to 12 hours.
The main preventer medicines are the inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) such as beclometasone. These work by reducing the amount of inflammation in your airways. This eases the swelling and narrowing of the airways, and also reduces the amount of mucus produced in the lungs.
Q: What's the difference between a reliever inhaler and a preventer inhaler, and when should you use them?
A: Reliever inhalers treat your asthma symptoms, so you use them when you feel asthma symptoms starting. Preventer inhalers help to prevent your asthma symptoms. If you need a preventer inhaler, you'll have to use it every day. Preventer inhalers can be particularly helpful for people who also have allergic conditions.
Q: What's the correct way to use an inhaler, and how can you make sure you're getting the right dose of medicine?
A: Follow these steps:
1. Sit up straight or stand up and lift the chin to open the airways.
2. Remove the cap from the mouthpiece and shake the inhaler vigorously.
3. If you haven't used the inhaler for a week or more, or it is the first time you have used it, spray it into the air first to check that it works.
4. Take a few deep breaths and then breathe out gently. Immediately place the mouthpiece in your mouth and put your teeth around it (not in front of it and do not bite it), and seal your lips around the mouthpiece, holding it between your lips.
5. Start to breathe in slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece. As you breathe in, simultaneously press down on the inhaler canister to release the medicine. One press releases one puff of medicine.
6. Continue to breathe in deeply to ensure the medicine gets into your lungs.
7. Hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can, before breathing out slowly.
If you need to take another puff, wait for 30 seconds, shake your inhaler again then repeat steps 4 -7 before replacing the cap on the mouthpiece.
Practice using your inhaler in front of the mirror a few times. If you see mist coming from the top of the inhaler, or from the sides of your mouth or your nostrils, you are not inhaling the dose correctly. If you're still not sure you're doing it correctly, ask your pharmacist, doctor or practice nurse to check your technique.
Q: What is a nebuliser, how does it work and why would anyone need to use one?
A: A nebuliser is a machine that creates a mist of medicine, which is then breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece. The advantage is that it eases breathing problems quickly.
Nebulisers are used to facilitate the faster and effective absorption of the medicine. This is achieved by breaking down the liquid medicine into very fine particles that are inhaled by the patient.
Nebulisers are mainly used in infants, patients who have severe respiratory problems and very elderly people. They are more commonly used to give high doses of reliever medicine in an emergency situation, for example in hospital or a doctor's surgery.
Q: Are asthma medicines generally safe?
A: Relievers are a safe and effective medicine and have very few side effects. You cannot overdose on reliever medicine, though some relievers can temporarily increase your heartbeat or give you mild muscle shakes. This said you should always follow prescription advice and doseage.
With preventer medicine there is a small risk of having a sore tongue, sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and a mouth infection called thrush. However, using a spacer device and/or rinsing the mouth after using the inhaler can easily prevent these.
Q: Can anyone use asthma medicines?
A: Yes asthma medicines can be prescribed for anyone. If you are using an asthma inhaler during preganancy or while breastfeeding, the amount of medicine you get from a puff is small and goes straight to your lungs, so it is not likely to harm your baby.
A: The main types of reliever medicines are called short-acting selective beta2 adrenoreceptor agonists (or short-acting beta2 agonists for short), such as salbutamol. These work by copying the effects of natural substances – adrenaline and noradrenaline – produced in the body. These substances are chemical messengers that the body produces as part of the 'fight or flight' reaction (that is, they prepare the body for exercise or a stressful situation).
One of their effects is to open up the airways (bronchodilation) so that more air can reach the lungs. They work within 30 minutes of taking them and the effects last for three to five hours. Long-acting beta2 agonists take longer to work but the effects can last up to 12 hours.
The main preventer medicines are the inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) such as beclometasone. These work by reducing the amount of inflammation in your airways. This eases the swelling and narrowing of the airways, and also reduces the amount of mucus produced in the lungs.
Q: What's the difference between a reliever inhaler and a preventer inhaler, and when should you use them?
A: Reliever inhalers treat your asthma symptoms, so you use them when you feel asthma symptoms starting. Preventer inhalers help to prevent your asthma symptoms. If you need a preventer inhaler, you'll have to use it every day. Preventer inhalers can be particularly helpful for people who also have allergic conditions.
Q: What's the correct way to use an inhaler, and how can you make sure you're getting the right dose of medicine?
A: Follow these steps:
1. Sit up straight or stand up and lift the chin to open the airways.
2. Remove the cap from the mouthpiece and shake the inhaler vigorously.
3. If you haven't used the inhaler for a week or more, or it is the first time you have used it, spray it into the air first to check that it works.
4. Take a few deep breaths and then breathe out gently. Immediately place the mouthpiece in your mouth and put your teeth around it (not in front of it and do not bite it), and seal your lips around the mouthpiece, holding it between your lips.
5. Start to breathe in slowly and deeply through the mouthpiece. As you breathe in, simultaneously press down on the inhaler canister to release the medicine. One press releases one puff of medicine.
6. Continue to breathe in deeply to ensure the medicine gets into your lungs.
7. Hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as you comfortably can, before breathing out slowly.
If you need to take another puff, wait for 30 seconds, shake your inhaler again then repeat steps 4 -7 before replacing the cap on the mouthpiece.
Practice using your inhaler in front of the mirror a few times. If you see mist coming from the top of the inhaler, or from the sides of your mouth or your nostrils, you are not inhaling the dose correctly. If you're still not sure you're doing it correctly, ask your pharmacist, doctor or practice nurse to check your technique.
Q: What is a nebuliser, how does it work and why would anyone need to use one?
A: A nebuliser is a machine that creates a mist of medicine, which is then breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece. The advantage is that it eases breathing problems quickly.
Nebulisers are used to facilitate the faster and effective absorption of the medicine. This is achieved by breaking down the liquid medicine into very fine particles that are inhaled by the patient.
Nebulisers are mainly used in infants, patients who have severe respiratory problems and very elderly people. They are more commonly used to give high doses of reliever medicine in an emergency situation, for example in hospital or a doctor's surgery.
Q: Are asthma medicines generally safe?
A: Relievers are a safe and effective medicine and have very few side effects. You cannot overdose on reliever medicine, though some relievers can temporarily increase your heartbeat or give you mild muscle shakes. This said you should always follow prescription advice and doseage.
With preventer medicine there is a small risk of having a sore tongue, sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and a mouth infection called thrush. However, using a spacer device and/or rinsing the mouth after using the inhaler can easily prevent these.
Q: Can anyone use asthma medicines?
A: Yes asthma medicines can be prescribed for anyone. If you are using an asthma inhaler during preganancy or while breastfeeding, the amount of medicine you get from a puff is small and goes straight to your lungs, so it is not likely to harm your baby.
