Bronchodilator therapy

Conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that cause breathing difficulties are often treated with bronchodilator therapy. Your Aurora specialist will consider your age, condition and other factors to find a medication to improve your breathing.

What is bronchodilation?

Bronchodilation uses prescription medication to widen the inside of tubes in the lungs called bronchioles that became narrow because of an allergy or a lung disease such as asthma. Such conditions make the smooth muscles around the bronchioles tighten, narrowing the space needed for air to flow through.

With asthma and some other conditions, your lungs may also produce too much mucus or the lining of the bronchioles may become inflamed and swollen.

Types of bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are described based on what class of medication is used and on how long they relieve your symptoms of lung disease.

Bronchodilators come in three major classes of medications:

  • Anticholinergic: Dilates bronchioles, reduces excess mucus and reduces inflammation to help prevent bronchioles from narrowing.
  • Beta-2 agonist: Relaxes smooth muscles of the bronchioles. Sometimes combined with a corticosteroid to control other symptoms.
  • Xanthine derivatives such as theophylline: Dilates bronchioles and reduces excess mucus production.

Each of these medications may be used as short-acting or long-acting symptom relievers for respiratory conditions. Short-acting medicines (also known as rescue, quick-acting or reliever) are used for breathing problems that occasionally come on suddenly. Long-acting medicines are used for conditions that cause breathing problems all the time and are prescribed for daily use.

Some people only need a bronchodilator occasionally, so they use short-acting medicines. People with chronic conditions often use daily long-acting bronchodilators and short-acting medicines for acute (sudden) symptoms.

Anticholinergic drugs and beta-2 agonists are available as short-acting or long-acting types.

Usually, theophylline is used as a long-acting drug and is prescribed as capsules or tablets. It may be used rarely as a short-acting liquid medicine in intravenous (injected into a vein) form.

Administering bronchodilators for respiratory wellness

Person using an inhaler for bronchodilator therapy
Image shows a person about to use an inhaler for bronchodilator therapy.

Bronchodilators are produced as tablets, shots, liquids or inhalers (small canisters of medicine). The inhaler form is often prescribed because it delivers a precise dose of medicine directly to the lungs where it’s needed.

Learning proper inhaler usage can take some time, but most people learn with practice. It requires coordinating three steps:

  • Exhale as completely as possible
  • Insert the mouthpiece of the inhaler and press down on the canister while inhaling deeply
  • Hold your breath as long as possible to keep the medication in your lungs

If you have trouble learning to use an inhaler this way, your doctor may prescribe a spacer that fits between your mouth and the mouthpiece of the inhaler. Spacers help deliver the medication to your lungs instead of your stomach because the medicine is held inside the spacer so you can inhale more slowly and deeply.

Nebulizer treatments for bronchodilator therapy

Bronchodilators are sometimes delivered using a nebulizer, a device that’s easier to use than an inhaler. The nebulizer uses liquid medicine and turns it into a mist that can be breathed in more slowly. A nebulizer treatment takes 15-25 minutes to complete and is often suggested for younger children or people who have trouble using an inhaler.

Understanding potential side effects of bronchodilators

Trembling, nervousness, muscle cramps and sudden heart palpitations are some of the more common side effects of bronchodilator therapy for COPD and other conditions. They sometimes cause spasms of the muscles in the lungs instead of helping them relax. Allergic reactions are also possible.

When a bronchodilator is delivered using a nebulizer, common side effects may be a rapid heartbeat, jitteriness or anxiety. Less common effects are:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Throat irritation
  • Vomiting

Theophylline is used less often than other bronchodilators because many people who take it experience side effects including facial swelling, rash, fever, fainting, seizures, unusual breathing or unusual heart rate.

If you have any adverse effect of bronchodilator therapy, be sure to tell your doctor about it.

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