Examples
Inhaled
|
| Alupent | metaproterenol sulfate | |
| Maxair | pirbuterol acetate | |
| Serevent | salmeterol | |
Inhaled or oral
|
| Proventil, Ventolin | albuterol | |
Inhaled, oral, or injected
How It Works
Bronchodilators relax the muscles in the
airways of the lungs. This enlarges (dilates) the airways and makes it easier
for you to breathe. Bronchodilators may also help you cough up
mucus. When they are used to treat
cystic fibrosis, bronchodilators are usually given
through a
nebulizer or with an
inhaler. They are rarely taken as a pill or given as
an injection.
Why It Is Used
Bronchodilators are used to treat
many lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis.
To minimize certain
side effects, bronchodilators are often used along with inhaled
antibiotics.
How Well It Works
Some people who have cystic
fibrosis breathe much more easily while using bronchodilators. Other people do
not notice any benefits.
Bronchodilators work better on people who
have inflamed, narrow airways.
Side Effects
These medicines are more likely to cause
side effects when they are taken as a pill or through an injection than when
they are inhaled. Side effects can include:
- Anxiety.
- Muscle
tremors.
- Increased heart rate.
In addition, each type of bronchodilator may have its own
additional side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has reported that salmeterol may make breathing more difficult. If your
wheezing gets worse after taking this medicine, call your health professional
right away.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects.
(Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Inhalation is the best way to use
bronchodilator medicines. Oral and injected methods have more side effects and
are usually given only to people who cannot tolerate inhaling the
medicine.
When taking certain bronchodilators, consider the
following:
- Bronchodilators may cause fewer side effects if
they are used before a dose of inhaled antibiotics.
- It is very important to take each medicine at the right time and
in the right order.
- Salmeterol should not be used in place of the
other bronchodilators listed above. It is important to follow your doctor's or
pharmacist's instructions for using bronchodilators.
- Salmeterol
should not be used instead of an inhaled anti-inflammatory medicine (such as a
corticosteroid, cromolyn, or nedocromil).
- Over-the-counter bronchodilators (such as Primatene)
should not be used without first talking to your doctor. If you are using one
of these products, talk with your doctor about your symptoms.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) 
(What is a PDF document?)
to help you understand this medication.
Credits
| Author | Debby Golonka, MPH |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Susanna McColley, MD - Pediatric Pulmonology |
| Last Updated | June 26, 2007 |
