Chapter 11: Drugs For Treating Asthma Flashcards
What is asthma?
A disease of diffuse airway inflammation caused by a variety of triggering stimuli, resulting in partially or completely reversible bronchoconstriction
Name some symptoms and signs of asthma:
- dyspnea
- chest tightness
- cough
- wheezing
Name the signs and symptoms of a fatal asthma attack.
- use of accessory muscles of respiration
- HR > 120 bpm
- resps > 25-30 breaths/min
- difficulty speaking
- altered level of consciousness
- quiet chest
- diaphoresis
- inability to lie supine
- cyanosis
- SpO2 < 90%
- progressive agitation or anxiety
- sense of fear or impending doom
- sense of progressive breathlessness or air hunger
What are the 2 general classes of asthma medications?
- quick-relief or rescue medications
- long-term control medications
Name 3 short-acting rescue drugs.
- short-acting beta-agonists (SABA)
- anticholinergics
- systemic (oral) corticosteroids
How are SABAs used? How do they work?
- first choice for quick relief of asthma symptoms
- relax bronchiole smooth muscle (bronchodilators)
- quickly opens airways
- also used before exercise to prevent EIB
How quickly do SABAs work and how long do they last?
- starts within minutes
- lasts for 2-4 hours
What is the most common SABA? What is the route of administration?
- Albuterol
- administered by a metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
When is nebulized treatment used?
For people who have difficulties coordinating MDIs and spacers
What is PEF?
Peak expiratory flow
Pharmacological intervention is necessary for asthma patients who have:
- PEF < 80% of personal or predicted best
- lack of response to SABA treatment
- symptoms: coughing, breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness, use of accessory muscles for breathing
ATs should administer up to _____ puffs of SABA in 1 hour, reassessing the patient response to treatment every _____ min.
- 3
- 5-10 min
What steps should be taken with a severe asthma episode with poor response (PEF < 60% of personal or predicted best)?
- Add prescribed oral corticosteroid drug
- Repeat SABA treatment immediately
- Add prescribed inhaled anticholinergic medication
- Immediately transport the patient to a hospital emergency department
Which asthma patients should be transported to the emergency department?
Patients who do not respond or have severe symptoms or a PEF persistently < 80% of baseline
How do anticholinergics work?
- reduce mucus and open airways by inhibiting muscarinic cholinergic receptors and reducing intrinsic vagaries tone of the airway
- these take longer to be effective than SABAs but may be used as an alternative bronchodilator for patients who do not tolerate SABAs.
Administration of ______ provides additive benefit to SABAs in moderate to severe asthma exacerbations.
Anticholinergics
Name a popular anticholinergic.
Ipratropium (Atrovent)
How do systemic (oral) corticosteroids work?
- reduce inflammation, swelling, mucus production in the airways of a person with asthma
- not short acting, but used for moderate and severe exacerbations as an adjunct to SABAs to speed recovery and prevent recurrence of exacerbations
Systemic (oral) corticosteroids are unnessarey for patients who…
Patients whose PEF normalizes after 1 or 2 bronchodilator doses
Describe dosing of prednisone for asthma.
- higher doses (50-60 mg, once a day) prescribed for management of more severe exacerbations require in-patient care
- lower doses (40 mg, once a day) prescribed for outpatient treatment of milder exacerbations
- treatment duration of 5-7 days is recommended
The most effective long-term-control medications are those that…..
- attenuate the underlying inflammation characteristic of asthma
- help to control asthma and prevent asthma attacks
Name 4 long-term asthma control medications:
- inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
- long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs)
- inhaled mast cell stabilizers
- leukotriene modifiers