Definition of Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators are medications commonly used for the treatment and prevention of obstructive lung disease. Some fast facts about bronchodilators follow. Consult your physician for more information or to find out if this medication is right for you.
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What
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Bronchodilators are medications used to dilate or open up the airways in the lungs' respiratory tracts. The passages through which the air flows are known as bronchus (plural: bronchi), hence the name bronchodilator.
Who
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Bronchodilators are commonly used by people experiencing breathing difficulties as a symptom of asthma and other obstructive lung diseases.
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Forms
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Bronchodilators come in short-acting and long-acting varieties, and are administered in gas form by way of an oral aerosol inhaler, orally in pill form, or as a liquid in injection form. The latter two forms are often used for prevention of symptoms in patients with severe asthma, whereas the inhaler form is most often used at the onset of a flare-up of symptoms or when the patient suspects an attack is imminent.
Commercial Inhalers
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Acute bronchodilator inhaler therapies include Accuneb, Alupent, Combivent, Duoneb, Maxair Autohaler, Proair HFA (see photo), Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, Xenopex and Xenopex HLA.
Contraindications
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Several products have the potential to interfere with the effectiveness of bronchodilator therapy, including certain prescription and non-prescription drugs, caffeinated foods and drinks and tobacco.
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References
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Flickr. com user "BREATHE LA"
