What drugs are used in inhalers

Medications used in inhalers include anti-inflammatory drugs (steroids, such as prednisone), bronchodilators (beta-2 agonist), or both at the same time (combined inhalers).

Inhalers with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Anti-inflammatory medications used in inhalers help prevent asthma attacks and reduce swelling and excessive mucus formation in the airways. These drugs allow asthmatics to better control the course of the disease.

Anti-inflammatory drugs include:

• Corticosteroids
• Mast cell stabilizers that prevent an allergic reaction

Inhalers with bronchodilator. Bronchodilator can be short or long acting. They are used to relieve asthma symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Inhaled bronchodilators open and widen the airways, acting much faster than oral medications.

Bronchodilators used in inhalers include:

• Fast acting beta-agonist, including albuterol, Alupent, Maxair, Xopenex
• Long acting beta agonist
• Inhalers that contain both albuterol and ipratropium (anticholinergic bronchodilator). The combination of albuterol and ipratropium can also be used in aerosols.

How to find out that there is still a medicine in the inhaler?

Most of the inhalers have a meter built in. With the rest, there may be some difficulties with the determination of the remainder of the drug in the inhaler. Most asthmatics will talk about their experience with inhalers: they believe that there is no more medication, when there is no longer a “puff” sound when pressed. But the problem is that many inhalers can produce a similar sound for a long time after the medication is over.

You can use the inhaler correctly and hear the “puff” sound during the injection, but the inhaler may be completely empty. And this is a serious problem when you are dependent on medications that prevent asthma attacks.

The best way to find out if there is any more medicine in an inhaler that does not have a counter is to note the number of doses used in the inhaler and shake the inhaler after each “puff” sound. The number of possible doses contained in the inhaler is usually indicated on the inhaler itself or the filter box. Mark the approximate date on the calendar, when the medication in the inhaler should end, and try to buy a new one before this date.

Keep an extra one-two inhaler at home. Carefully read the instructions that come with the inhaler. Some inhalers need to be shaken before use, others need to be pumped several times after a long stagnation.

When is a separator used with an inhaler?

The separator is a tube that is attached to the inhaler and holds the medicine until you inhale it. This simplifies the use of an inhaler and helps injecting medication into the lungs more effectively. Not all inhalers should be used with a separator, so consult a pharmacist. There are cases that metered inhalers and traditional inhalers can be used without a separator. Your doctor will advise which method is best for you.

Separators with a mask are usually necessary for children or someone who cannot properly inhale with a traditional separator that is attached to an inhaler.

Inhaler – the most effective way to quickly enter the drug in the body, suffering from asthma and other lung diseases. If you or someone close to you has asthma, it is very important to know as much as possible about inhalers, including how to use it properly.

What is an inhaler?

An inhaler is a pocket device that injects medicine directly into the lungs. Of course, you can take the medicine orally or intravenously, but the inhaler injects the medicine directly into the lungs and helps to stop the exacerbation of asthma symptoms much faster and with fewer side effects.

How does the medicine enter the lungs?

The drug enters the lungs using an inhaler in several ways:

• Dosing inhaler. The drug enters the lungs through a small aerosol filter box. When you press the inhaler, the medicine gets into the mouth without irritating the mucous membrane, and you inhale it.
• Dry inhaler. When using a dry inhaler, you need to deeply inject the medication into your lungs. It is a little harder to use these inhalers, especially during an asthma attack, when you have difficulty breathing and lack of air. Therefore, carefully read the instructions for each dry inhaler, as they are very different from each other. The method of use to which you have adapted may approach one inhaler and not approach another.