Question

MA, a 55-year-old patient, was recently diagnosed with bronchial asthma. Her mother and three brothers also have asthma. In the past year, MA has had three asthmatic attacks that were treated with prednisone and an albuterol inhaler. At an office visit today, prednisone is prescribed for 4 weeks, and the order is written as follows: day 1, 1 tablet 4 times a day; day 2, 1 tablet 3 times a day; day 3, 1 tablet 2 times a day; day 4, 1 tablet in the morning; day 5, one-half tablet in the morning. Question 9- Which drugs are used as preventive medications?

Answer 1

The treatment for asthma is using control medications each day. The asthma control medications used most often reduce inflammation in Airways. When the arrays are less in flame they become less sensitive. This reduces risk of having an asthma attack.

STEPWISE APPROACH TO TREAT ASTHMA.

The national heart lung and blood Institute recommends a stepwise approach to treat asthma..

1. INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS:

Many studies have shown that the invalid Costco stress are most effective medications for long term asthma control. Inhaled corticosteroids make Airways let's inflamed this leads to less severe asthma symptoms and better lung function Iris become less sensitive therefore the risk of having an asthma attack is lower.

These are several inhaled corticosteroids available

Flunisolide

Ciclesonide

Fluticasone furrote.

Mometasone furoate.

Budesonide.

Beclomethasone dipropionate.

2. LONG ACTING BETA AGONIST S.:

Long acting beta agonist relax the muscles that Surround the Airways. The effects last for up to 12 hours after taking a dose. Long acting beta agonist is abbreviated LABA.

LABAs are packed alone or in combination in with the corticosteroid.

Formoterol

Salmeterol

Combination inhaler s

Fluticasone propinate + Salmeterol

Mometasone+ Formoterol fumarate.

LEUKOTRIENE MODIFIERS

These are tablets that are taken by mouth which block signalling Chemicals called leukotrienes which causes the Airways to become narrow and sensitive.

Leukotriene modifier do not work as well as inhaled corticosteroid .

Montelukast

Zafirlukast

Zileuton.

ORAL CORTICOSTEROIDS

Oral corticosteroids reduce inflammation. These may be used short term at the start of an asthma attack or after an attack. Because of the risk of Side Effects they are only used long term used to treat patients with the most severe asthma

Long term use of oral corticosteroids has many serious side effects generally stop after stopping the medicine. This side effects include changing in blood sugar, increasing appetite, fluid retention and high blood pressure.

ALLERGY SHOTS AND UNDER THE TONGUE ALLERGY TREATMENT.

It is also called as immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is done to make less sensitive to certain allergies it can be start my taking a very small dose of an allargen. The doors increases over time. Echoes of allergy shots can take 3 to 5 years during that time the body build up tolerance to the allargen.

Immunotherapy is most useful when there is a clear link between an allergen and symptoms.