Final Exam Flashcards - Asthma & COPD
Asthma
- A chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that causes shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing
- Has no set pattern, symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe
Drugs Used in The Treatment of Asthma
Classified as either:
- “Rescue” medicines or “relievers” (which treat acute symptoms)
- or “Controllers” or “maintenance” (which prevent episodes
Rescue Medicines Used For Asthma
- Provide rapid but short term relief of asthma symptomsby reversing bronchospasm and opening airways
- Short-Acting B2-adrenergic agonists (SABA)
SABA MOA
-Bind to B2 receptors which causes the bronchial smooth muscle to relax and the bronchospasm reverses
SABA ADR’s
- Nervousness, jitteriness
- Tremors
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dry mouth
- Headache
Controllers/Maintenance Drugs Used for Asthma
- There are 5 classes of drugs used to prevent asthma symptoms:
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- LABAs
- Leukotriene antagonists
- Mast cell stabilizers
- Xanthine Derivatives
Inhaled Corticosteroids MOA
-Antiinflammatory
Inhaled corticosteroids ADR’s
- Thrush always rinse mouth after use
- Coughing
- Hoarseness
- Dry mouth
- Unpleasant taste
LABA’s
- Use is restricted to patients whose asthma symptoms cannot be controlled by other medications
- **Contraindicated without the use of an inhaled corticosteroid
- NEVER primary therapy
- NOT for acute relief
Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
- Common ending: “lukast”
- Reduce inflammation by interfering with the binding of leukotrienes to smooth muscle receptors on airways
Montelukast ADR’s
- cough
- Hoarseness
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Runny nose
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness or drowsiness
- Muscle aches or cramps
- Unusual dreams
Zafirlukast ADR’s
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Headache
- Indigestion
- HEartburn
- Runny nose
Montelukast Tech Note!
-Granules should not be opened until ready for use. Once opened, packet must be administered within 15 minutes
Mast Cell Stabilizers
-Make mast cells less reactive to antigens, thus reducing inflammatory substances
Xanthine Derivatives
- Common ending: “phylline”
- Oldest class of drugs used for asthma
- VERY NARROW TI
