Your Essential Guide to Different Types of Asthma Inhalers
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There are many different types of asthma medications. All are designed reduce the symptoms of asthma (lung swelling, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness). The two most common forms of medicine intake are orally (through the mouth) and by inhaling it. Here is a breakdown of types of inhaled asthma medications.
There are two common types of inhalers on the market today – long-acting and fast acting. Long-acting inhalers are used every day, to reduce the symptoms of asthma, and significantly reduce the prevalence of asthma attacks. They are often cortisteroids, which help to reduce swelling or open up the airways.Long-Acting InhalersAdvair
– Advair is long-acting asthma medication. It has also been prescribed for use with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Advair has two medicinal ingredients-Fluticasone and Salmeterol. Fluticasone is a steroid that helps to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Salmeterol is a long acting bronchodilator, which works to open airways, allowing more oxygen to be inhaled. Advair is one of the most popular long-acting inhalers on the market today. It can also be bought as a generic; it has the same medicinal ingredients for a significantly lower price.
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Symbicort
– Symbicort is similar to Advair in its two-medicinal ingredient structure. However, Symbicort uses budenoside, a cortisteroid which controls and reduces asthma symptoms by reducing swelling in the lungs’ airways. The second medicinal ingredient is formeterol, a bronchodilator which helps to keep the airways open. Another significant ingredient in Symbicort is inhaled lactose, which some asthmatics may be allergic to.
Asmanex
– Asmanex is a single ingredient ‘twisthaler.’ It is similar to Symbicort in that it contains milk proteins. However, Asmanex’s medicinal ingredient is mometesone, a cortisteroid. Mometesone works by reducing the swelling in the lungs, which allows better airflow and reduces the number of bronchospasms (asthma attacks) in the patient.
There are many other brands of long-acting inhalers, with different levels of medicine within each. Some medicinal ingredients may cause more side effects than others – every respiratory system is different. Talk to your doctor about which of these will work the best for you. Remember though, that a long-acting inhaler must always be supplemented by a fast-acting one, in the event of an unexpected asthma attack.Fast-Acting Inhalers Asthma is usually easy to control, especially with regular use of oral or inhaled long-acting medications. However, for an asthmatic, there is always the chance of an environmentally triggered bronchospasm, or asthma attack. Asthma attacks are characterized by a sudden seizing of the muscle bands around the lungs and inside the airways, which results in the sufferer being unable to breathe. Asthmatics should always carry a fast acting inhaler with them. Here are some examples of popular fast acting inhalers and how they work.Proventil
– Proventil is currently the number one fast-acting asthma inhaler in the United States. Proventil’s, medicinal ingredient, albuterol, is a bronchodilator. It works to significantly reduce the symptoms of bronchospasms by relaxing the muscles around the airways. This allows the patient to breathe smoothly.
Atrovent
– Atrovent is a fast-acting inhaler. Ipratropium bromide, the medicinal ingredient in Atrovent, is a cholinergic medication. It works by opening the airways and relaxing the muscles around them to help the patient quickly breathe better.
Combivent
– Combivent shares one of its ingredients, ipratropium bromide, with Atrovent. However, Combivent also contains Albuterol, which works to reduce the symptoms of an asthma attack by relaxing the muscles around the airways. Talk to your doctor about using Combivent if you are allergic to soya lecithin, one of its binding ingredients.
Author: Julia Mulline is a medical writer based out of Vancouver BC. She recommends Canada Drugs Online, a licensed Canada pharmacy,
to
buy Symbicort
and generic Proventil. The pharmacy has an online division where American customers can take advantage of Canadian pricing.
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