Asthma Drugs Flashcards
What is the pathology of asthma? (4 things)
- bronchospasm
- mucous production
- immune system involvement
- histamine release from mast cells
What are asthma ‘relievers’ used for and what do they target
relief of symptoms in an acute attack (through bronchodilation)
What are asthma ‘preventers’ used for? and what do they target
prevent/minimise severity of symptoms (through targeting the immune system)
What are the three main lines of treatment in asthma drugs?
- bronchodilators
- immune modulators/suppressors
- mast cell stabilisation
What type of drug is salbutamol
A Short-acting B2 agonist (SABA)
What is salbutamol used for?
a reliever during acute attacks
What is the mechanism of action of salbutamol
stimulates B2 receptors on airway smooth muscle. Causes
- direct bronchodilation
- mast cell membrane stabilisation (inhibits release of inflammatory mediators)
- doesn’t have anti-inflammatory porperties.
What are the adverse effects of Salbutamol?
Affects other B2 receptors in body so stimulates the fight or flight reaction. Stimulates heart, causes skeletal muscle tremor, hypokalaemia, irritability, anxiety.
What type of drug is salmeterol?
A Long-acting B2 agonist (LABA)
