Guest Author - Amy Anaruk

Antibiotic � destroys or stops the growth of bacteria that causes an infection. Antibiotics will not heal viral illnesses like the flu or a cold. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics treat a specific type of bacteria, like that causing strep throat, while broad-spectrum antibiotics treat a variety of bacteria or a drug-resistant strain of one. Recent research suggests broad-spectrum antibiotic use in a baby�s first year increases the risk of developing asthma.
Example: Amoxicillin

Anticholinergic � long-acting maintenance bronchodilator that will help prevent flares but stop them once started. Anticholinergic inhalers work by stopping the parasympathetic nerve impulse from starting the smooth muscle spasms around the airways.
Example: Atrovent

Antihistamine � blocks the effects of histamine, the compound in an allergic reaction that causes symptoms like irritated eyes, itchiness, swelling, runny nose, and post-nasal drip. Antihistamines are available orally or in a spray.
Example: Loratadine (Clarityn)

Beta 2-agonist � bronchodilator available in short-acting form for emergency/quick relief or long-acting form for prevention. Asthma patients use short-acting beta 2-agonist inhalers as their main relief medications during flares. Beta 2-agonists work by binding to the adrenergic receptor to relax the smooth muscles around the bronchioles, preventing spasms.
Example: Ventolin (Albuterol)

Bronchodilator � any medicine that opens the bronchioles (airways) by relaxing the smooth muscles around them and clearing excess mucus. During an asthma flare, the smooth muscles spasm and the bronchioles produce more mucus, restricting airflow. Types of bronchodilators include anticholinergics, beta 2-agonists, and theophylline.

Corticosteroid � reduces lung inflammation and swelling in the lungs. A corticosteroid inhaler works as a preventative medicine because an asthma trigger will not affect healthy lung tissue as severely as inflamed tissue. In a pill or liquid suspension, corticosteroids are used to rapidly reduce inflammation during a severe flare. Often simply called steroid.
Example, inhaled steroid: Fluticasone propionate (Flovent)
Example, oral steroid: Prednisone

Decongestant � oral medicine that shrinks swollen mucus membranes in the nose, reducing congestion and runny noses. Many asthmatics have problems with excess mucus in the nose as well as in the lungs.
Example: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

Epinephrine � another name for adrenaline, a hormone. Epinephrine suppressed the immune system and can also act as a bronchodilator. Used to treat anaphylaxis and, less commonly, severe asthma flares during an emergency or when the flare doesn't respond to other bronchodilators.

Leukotriene modifier � blocks leukotrienes, a chemical in the body that produces too much mucus and constricts airways. Some patients with mild asthma successfully use leukotriene modifiers, an oral medicine, rather than inhaled corticosteroids for maintenance.
Example: Montelukast (Singulair)

Mast cell stabilizers � preventative inhalers that work by inhibiting mast cells from releasing inflammatory compounds. They work mostly for mild asthmatics, since they are not as effective as corticosteroids in preventing inflammation.
Example: Cromolyn sodium (Intal)

Preventative medicines - used to maintain good lung health and prevent or lessen the severity of asthma flares. Some work as anti-inflammatories, and others are long-acting bronchodilators. No preventative medication will stop an asthma flare once it starts. Leukotriene modifiers, anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, and inhaled corticosteroids are preventative asthma medications.

Quick-relief medicines � those medicines that rapidly force the airways open during an asthma flare. Also called relief or reliever medicines. Short-acting beta 2-agonist inhalers are the main reliever medicines.

Theophylline - a long-acting bronchodilator used as a preventative. Theophylline is related to caffeine and has more serious severe effects than other bronchodilators. Dosage must be monitored very carefully to avoid toxic overdose. Doctors usually prescribe theophylline to enhance other preventatives in severe cases, when other bronchodilators do not work, or when a patient needs to take an oral medicine instead of an inhaled one. Available as a pill or liquid.
Example: Elixophyllin


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"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -Thich Nhat Hanh



This article is not written by a medical professional, and information on this page should never be substituted for your physician's advice. If you have any questions about your asthma and/or allergies, you should always contact your physician first.