COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I found an interesting article detailing inhalers. I'm going to cut and paste just a small portion to give you an idea of what the article is about. After that I will give you the link so you can read the entire article if you want to.
.....There are two main groups of drugs for asthma used with inhalers relievers and preventers. The relievers act immediately and provide relief from acute symptoms of asthma. Bronchodilators, primarily the short and long acting beta-agonist drugs (salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeterol, formoterol and others), are the important relievers.
The preventers are primarily the anti-inflammatory drugs represented by locally acting corticosteroids such as the beclomethasone, budesonide and fluticasone. It is the difference between the relievers and the preventers which makes all the difference in the control of asthma and in causing any side-effects, including deaths from asthma.
It may seem a bit odd but true that the corner-stone of asthma treatment in the use of preventers and not the relievers. Although there is a rapid relief after a puff or two of a beta agonist inhalation, it does not last long and the problem comes back. One tends to take more inhalations, and more and more.... till exhaustion and frustration take over.....
http://www.cipladoc.com/html/respiratoryupdate/labacontroversy.htm
.....There are two main groups of drugs for asthma used with inhalers relievers and preventers. The relievers act immediately and provide relief from acute symptoms of asthma. Bronchodilators, primarily the short and long acting beta-agonist drugs (salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeterol, formoterol and others), are the important relievers.
The preventers are primarily the anti-inflammatory drugs represented by locally acting corticosteroids such as the beclomethasone, budesonide and fluticasone. It is the difference between the relievers and the preventers which makes all the difference in the control of asthma and in causing any side-effects, including deaths from asthma.
It may seem a bit odd but true that the corner-stone of asthma treatment in the use of preventers and not the relievers. Although there is a rapid relief after a puff or two of a beta agonist inhalation, it does not last long and the problem comes back. One tends to take more inhalations, and more and more.... till exhaustion and frustration take over.....
http://www.cipladoc.com/html/respiratoryupdate/labacontroversy.htm
They should also be used in combination with a corticosteroid.
For fast relief, you want albuterol or one of its derivatives.
Otherwise, this is a very good article that explains why the newer combination drugs are so helpful. Thanks!
When hospitalized, I have always been on salmeterol intravenously. Prehaps the reason for this is that it prevents bronchospasm, but does not open up airways, for this I was on continous nebs (albuterol, etc) and also a heart monitor. The problem being the albuterol, etc. causes rapid heart beat and I had to be continually monitored. Or at any rate, this is what the doctors told me.
I think what the article is referring to is when one overuses albuterol or a "relief" drug and the heart problems that can occur from over use. It could be a patient might be having a severe astmatic attack, get panicky and if kept using the relief inhaler would basically, overdose. Not that the relief inhaler, it itself, is harmful.
Anyway, that's my take on the article, and I am not an expert, so I certainly could be wrong.
I DID NOT WRITE OR QUOTE THIS ARTICLE, I ONLY READ IT, thought it was informative and wanted to share it with those who might be interested.
My take on the ariticle was how important it is to have the inflamation of mucus under control. Albuterol does nothing to help that. Some people try to fix the problem with the albuterol type inhalers (whatever they are called, this article called them relievers) only and find themself in big trouble if the inflamation and mucus is not under control.
Thanks for posting it.