Note when using bronchodilators

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Bronchodilators have the main effect of relaxing the smooth muscle wrapped around the bronchi, thereby helping to dilate the bronchi, increasing the airway diameter, making it easier for air to pass through the airways to reach the alveoli. exchange for oxygen and return carbon dioxide. However, bronchodilators have side effects if not used correctly.

1. Use bronchodilators in which case?

To ensure health as well as limit complications for patients, usually doctors will prescribe the use of bronchodilators for cases of bronchospasm causing difficulty breathing for the patient. Accordingly, diseases are often prescribed bronchodilators, for example: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis in exacerbations. In addition, bronchodilators may also be indicated in some special cases such as sinus bradycardia.
The bronchodilator classes currently being used include:
Beta 2 adrenergic bronchodilators (fast-acting, short-acting drugs: fenoterol, salbutamol, terbutaline; slow-acting, long-acting drugs: salmeterol) , bambuterol, formoterol, indacaterol, tulobuterol). Anticholinergic bronchodilators (fast-acting, short-acting: ipratropium bromide, oxitropium bromide; long-acting, slow-acting: tiotropium bromide, aclidinium bromide, glycopyrronium bromide) xanthine bronchodilators (this class of drugs is active) theophylline, this is a short-acting, fast-acting drug, however, currently, the drug is produced in a slow-release form, thus making it more convenient for users) Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor (roflumilast).

Many bronchodilators are produced as a single agent, however, many are now manufactured as a combination of 2 bronchodilators, usually a combination of an anticholinergic and a bronchodilator. enhance beta 2 adrenergic to increase the bronchodilator effect for patients.
Accordingly, bronchodilators are often prescribed by doctors according to the severity of the disease. Accordingly, patients with severe bronchospasm or those who have a poor response to bronchodilators should be given higher doses, with mild patients can use bronchodilators. less than.

2. Some important notes when using bronchodilators

To minimize complications as well as side effects when using bronchodilators, patients should pay attention when using bronchodilators as follows: prescription on dosage, duration, course, and time of use. In addition, the patient must also be equipped with more knowledge about the complications when using the drug so that soon there will be a treatment direction. Bronchodilators are not a cure for shortness of breath: In fact, many people mistake bronchodilators as a cure for shortness of breath and consider it as a rescue measure, so they often abuse it. In fact, overuse of bronchodilators can make the condition worse, because there are many causes of shortness of breath, such as heart failure. The use of bronchodilators for heart failure can make the condition worse.

Inhaled bronchodilators are preferred over oral drugs: Many patients still mistakenly believe that new oral or injectable bronchodilators are highly effective, so they often abuse oral bronchodilators. compared with inhaled bronchodilators. In fact, at present, bronchodilators are all produced in the form of spray-inhalation, because in this form they reach the airway mucosa very quickly, providing a fast and strong bronchodilator effect that makes the drug concentration worse. The absorption into the blood is limited, so there are few side effects. While with oral bronchodilators, on the contrary, the oral form must be absorbed into the blood, then to the lungs, bronchial smooth muscle, so it often does not create a strong bronchodilator effect, and at the same time, side effects occur. more than. Need to use bronchodilators correctly: Bronchodilators can be in the same spray-inhalation form, but each manufacturer will use different delivery devices. Therefore, in order to use bronchodilators effectively, patients need to understand how to use each delivery device. In addition, in order to use bronchodilators properly with drug delivery devices, patients need to carefully ask the prescriber or pharmacist for advice on how to use each drug. To be more certain, after buying a bronchodilator, the patient can write down the instructions for using the bronchodilator, and when he gets home, he should re-read the instruction sheet for that medicine and do it. At the follow-up visits, you can also bring a prescription, medicine to reuse in the presence of the doctor, they will give advice on whether you have used the correct bronchodilator or not. The correct use of drugs not only ensures the effectiveness of treatment but also avoids drug waste.

3. Using bronchodilators has side effects or not?

Do bronchodilators have side effects? This is a problem that many patients care about. The fact that bronchodilators can cause an allergic reaction is quite rare, with oral bronchodilators more likely to occur. Accordingly, beta-2 adrenergic agonists often cause side effects such as tremors, tachycardia, palpitations, and some patients may also experience cramps. People taking oral beta-2 agonists in combination with oral corticosteroids may have hypokalemia.

Xanthine group bronchodilators can cause side effects such as tachycardia, irritation of the stomach lining. Therefore, patients need to be very careful when using this group of drugs because the therapeutic and toxic doses are very close. The maximum dose is 10mg/kg/day, if symptoms of liver and kidney failure appear, the dose should be reduced immediately. Absolutely, do not use xanthine group drugs with macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin) because of the risk of causing torsade de pointes.
Some inhaled drugs can also cause allergies, allergic manifestations are shortness of breath that increases when using spray-inhaled drugs to treat shortness of breath, then, it should be stopped immediately and switched to another treatment drug.
Adherence to using bronchodilators properly will bring about effective treatment of the disease, on the contrary, if you do not follow the instructions for use, quitting halfway can leave dangerous complications affecting your health. strong.
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