Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : May 21, 2014 3:17 PM IST
Asthma is a chronic condition in which a person suffers from breathing difficulties due to inflammation of the air passage. It can develop at any age but is more commonly found in children. These days, more number of people are developing asthma due to exposure to extrinsic factors like smoke pollutants, air particulate matter and chemical vapours. Such patients are more prone to asthma attacks and find it difficult to control the symptoms. They frequently need to use inhalers and other medicines to prevent a subsequent attack. If you have been using asthma medicines for long enough, it's time you should be aware about the right way to use them, their side-effects, interactions and the results of overdose.
The treatment of asthma mainly focuses on effective control and prevention of asthma attacks and relieving symptoms. 'As soon as the patient is diagnosed with asthma, medicines are prescribed for optimum control so that the patient does not go into the state of uncontrolled asthma,' says Dr Rohit Agarwal, past president of the Indian Association of Pediatrics.
What are the common drugs prescribed for asthma patients?
'There are 2 groups of medications for asthma - preventers and relievers. Preventers are given on a long term basis for optimum control of asthma, whereas relievers act quickly and are given as and when required to relieve asthma symptoms.'
Preventers: They act by reducing inflammation, swelling and production of mucus in the airways. Types of medication in this group include inhaled corticosteroids, short-acting beta-agonists and leucotriene modifiers. Sometimes, a combination of steroid inhalers and long-acting agonists may be given. Oral corticosterioids like prednisone and methylprednisolone are prescribed in case of serious asthma attack.
Relievers: They are short-term but fast acting medications given to just relieve the symptoms of asthma. They work by relaxing the tight muscles around the airways to improve breathing in patients. They are given to patients who are more likely to get into the state of uncontrolled asthma.
Are these medicines to be taken for life?
According to Dr Agarwal it all depends on the condition of the patient. 'Whether you'll need medicines forever depends on how well your asthma is controlled. Fortunately, most children with asthma outgrow the condition by the age of 12-13 years. If asthma is promptly diagnosed and adequately managed then probably you might not need frequent medication later in life,' he explains.
What are the side-effects of these medicines?
There is no long time side effect of any medication, says Dr Agrawal. But, short term side-effects may occur in a few people.
Side-effects of relievers: Sometimes, high doses of relievers can increase your heart beat for a while. They can also cause muscle spasms.
Side-effects of preventers: Inhaled preventer medicines rarely cause any side-effects because they are restricted to the airways and do not get absorbed by the body in the way tablets are absorbed.
Common effects include hoarseness of the voice, thrush (infection) and sore throat. But it is better to restrict dosing because overdose of anything could be bad.
Side-effects of steroid tablets used for severe asthma attack
Although steroids are safe to use in appropriate dosage, long-term use of steroids has been associated with the following side-effects:
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
Do these medicines interact with other drugs?
Immunomodulators and inhaled drugs do not have any interactions as such. Although, here are some drug interactions you should be aware about:
So it's better to inform your doctor if you are taking some other medication, especially for heart disease, diabetes, depression and hypertension.
What happens if an extra dose of medicine is taken? Can it be harmful?
'Usually no harm is caused. However, overdose of drugs like beta 2 agonists (salbutamol) can at times cause symptoms like palpitation, irritability, restlessness etc,' says Dr Agarwal.
What else should people with asthma know about taking these medicines?
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