Asthma Drugs - Pharmacology

Question 1

How do anti-muscurinics work?

Answer 1

Blocks M3 muscurinic acetylcholine receptors in bronchial smooth muscles - stops it contracting

Question 2

How do theophyllines work? How strong a bronchodilator is it?

Answer 2

Non-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor
Adenosine receptor antagonist

Is a weak bronchodilator

Question 3

Some bad things about theophyllines?

Answer 3

Lots of bad side effects
Narrow therapeutic window
Unpredicatble metabolism - high drug to drug interactions

Question 4

What is a list of all the bronchial dialators that can be used?

Answer 4

B2 agonists
Anti-muscurinics
Theophyllines
Magnesium

Question 5

What is a list of all the anti-inflammatory drugs used?

Answer 5

Steroids - ICS or oral
LTRA
Monoclonal antibodies

Question 6

What sort of dose should be aimed for with oral steroids?

Answer 6

Lowest dose possible while still maintaining goof control

Question 7

Problems with oral steroids?

Answer 7

Causes adrenal glands to stop making endogeneous gluco-corticoid

If steroids stopped abruptly after 3 weeks can cause death due to this

Question 8

A patient on oral steroids should always carry what…?

Answer 8

A steroid alert card

Question 9

Side effects of oral steroids?

Answer 9

Moon face
Fad pads with red striations
Thin arms and legs
High BP 
Poor wound healing

Question 10

How do LTRA work?

Answer 10

Blocks cysteinyl leukotrine receptor

Question 11

Who is LTRA’s most effective in?

Answer 11

Those who are highly allergic

Question 12

What are monoclonal antibodies used for?

Answer 12

IgE mediated severe asthma

Question 13

How are monoclonal antibodies given?

Answer 13

S/C for 2-4 weeks

Question 14

What is the monclonal antibody Mepolizumbab used for?

Answer 14

In thoose with poor asthma control after being on long term oral steroids and have a high blood eosinophill count