Asthma Over The Counter Medications

Rescue Inhalers For Asthma Attacks

Rescue medicines do just what the name says: Work quickly enough to rescue you during an asthma attack. These drugs should be used for short periods of time for symptoms of asthma such as wheezing and cough. You may also hear these drugs called SABAs, which stands for short-acting beta-agonist.

Rescue inhalers work by relaxing the airway muscles. Used early, this can help keep an asthma attack from getting worse. These drugs begin to work in minutes, and the effects last for 4 to 6 hours. Examples of rescue inhalers include:1,2

Types Of Over The Counter Asthma Inhalers

Primatene Mist

Primatene Mist is a brand name for a popular inhaler containing epinephrine as the main ingredient. It is advisable to take 12 puffs every 4 hours when needed. The inhaler relieves the intermittent symptoms within approximately 20 minutes.

You should not exceed eight puffs in 24 hours. The inhaler is also not approved for children below 12 years.

Asthmanefrin

These inhalers contain racepinephrine as the main constituent. Asthmanefrin can relieve mild asthma symptoms in adults and children aged four years or older.

You can take 13 puffs every three hours as needed, but you should not exceed 12 puffs in 24 hours. Asthmanefrin takes effect within 20 minutes.

What Is A Spacer

A spacer is a long plastic tube that your inhaler fits into. It makes using an MDI inhaler much easier. Your doctor or nurse can show you how to use a spacer properly. Spacers are not just for children, adults can use them too. You can often get a spacer for free from your doctor just ask them for one. Read more about spacers

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Asthma Medications And Treatment

When it comes to understanding all of the asthma treatments available, its natural to feel a little bit confused.

The important thing to remember is that asthma is a variable disease. In other words, asthma symptoms, severity and treatment plans can vary from person to person, and even the same persons condition may fluctuate throughout the year.

The two most common types of asthma medications are controllers which treat the long-term, underlying inflammation in your airways and relieverswhich act as your rescue inhaler and provide fast but short-term relief of symptoms. You should speak with your healthcare professionalabout finding a treatment plan that is right for you.

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How To Use A Nebulizer Without Medication

Water in a nebulizer for cough, stuffy nose, lung congestion, and bronchitis is many times recommended to use, especially for people who do not want to use medications for respiratory problems.

For operating your nebulizer without medicines you need to add salt water solution or saline water into the medicine cup.

Inhalation of sodium chloride solution actually helps in breaking down the deposited mucus and phlegm in the lungs which are then expelled out as cough easily.

Is Saline for Baby Asthma Cough Safe?

As the saline solution is just a sterile salt water solution and not an actual asthma medication, using it to nebulize the baby is completely safe and free of side effects.

However saline nebulizer for infants should be given after consulting with the pediatrician who can advice the best saline nebuliser dose that can be given for your baby safely without showing any side effects.

Care that if there are signs of acute wheezing and severe asthma seen, nebulizing just with hypertonic saline may not prove much effective.

In this case, you may need to use asthma medications for getting a faster cure.

Where Can I Buy Saline Solution For Nebulizer?

Saline for nebulizer is easily available over the counter at online shopping sites like Amazon.

Care that you buy sterile saline from these stores and not use the homemade saline solution in the nebulizer machine as this can be risky.

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What Are The Best Over

Some FDA-approved over-the-counter asthma treatments you can get include:

• Primatene Mist HFA inhaler The Primatene Mist inhaler is one of the most popular OTC medications for asthma. It contains epinephrine. This is an active ingredient that links with the adrenergic receptors found in your lungs. It causes the lung muscles to relax, thereby opening your airways. In turn, this makes breathing easier. Primatene can only be used by those over the age of 12.

• Asthmanefrine This is a nebulizer liquid solution containing racemic epinephrine. It has similar effects as epinephrine in Primatene Mist. The only difference here is that it can be used for children four years and older.

• Oral medications such as Primatene and Bronchial Asthma Relief, among others

Who Is A Candidate For Asthma Medication

Any patient who has a diagnosis of asthma is a candidate for an asthma medication. Patients with mild, infrequent asthma symptoms may only need a short-acting rescue medication to use when needed, such as albuterol . Patients with more frequent and persistent asthma symptoms are candidates for daily medications. The choice of medication will depend on the severity of the asthma.

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Side Effects Of Asthma Medications

Many medications have side effects. For example, inhaled steroids can cause mild problems, such as thrush infections and a sore throat, or more serious ones including eye disorders and bone loss. Keep your doctor up to date with how well your treatment is working and whether you have side effects. Theyâll work with you to keep your asthma under control with as little medicine as possible.

How To Use An Over

Using an over-the-counter inhaler entails inhaling the aerosol by following these steps:

If it is your first time using an asthma inhaler, prime it four times before use. If it is not the first time, shake and spray once. Remember not to exceed eight inhalations in a day.

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Is There A Genetic Link To Asthma

Asthma is a complex disease with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. Some genes may have a protective effect while others increase the risk of asthma, with each gene having its own tendency to be influenced by the environment.

The risk of asthma in children with one affected parent is around 25%, whereas the risk if both parents are affected is around 50%. Research also shows that maternal asthma increases the offspring disease risk to a greater extent than paternal disease.

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Best Over The Counter Allergy Medicine For Asthma Reviews

Choosing the appropriate over the counter allergy medicine for asthma can be tough. However, if you consider these factors, your job will be easier.

• Product Quality: One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a product is its quality. Nobody would want a low-quality or easily worn-out object. They are even willing to spend a somewhat greater price for a good product.
• Reliability and durability are inextricably linked. Because it is tough and resilient.
• Ease of Use-The main reason to purchase a over the counter allergy medicine for asthma is to alleviate as much effort of your task as possible. For this section of our review, we looked at what steps are required for operation and how much attention we had to pay.
• Ergonomics Ergonomics was a much simpler metric for these products. We split it into three aspects: comfort, aesthetics, and profile design. Most of our listed products are decently comfortable, and we think it is one of the group’s sleeker and more stylish designs.
• Value is always important, but the range for over the counter allergy medicine for asthma is relatively narrow. We feel that the #1 model offers a great value for most people and that the #2 is great for advanced users.

After extensive research, we selected each of these over the counter allergy medicine for asthma based on their performance and dependability.

Best Overall over the counter allergy medicine for asthma:

This item can do it all and do it all the better than the rest.

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Taking Care Of The Nebulizer

Read the manufacturers instructions for care of your nebulizer. Different types of nebulizers may have slightly different directions, but in general:

• Disconnect the nebulizer cup tubing from the compressor after each treatment
• Open the cup and wash the cup and mouthpiece according to the instructions for your machine
• Air-dry all the parts on a clean towel
• Store the dried parts in a plastic bag

Once a week:

• Rinse the cup and the mask or mouthpiece in a solution of vinegar and water. Follow any other instructions from your doctor or the manufacturer for disinfecting the nebulizer
• Check the filter on the nebulizer machine. Replace it when it becomes discolored

Finally, make sure that you always have spare nebulizer parts and that you refill prescriptions on time so you always have your medication when you need it.

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How A Nebulizer For Allergies And Asthma Will Help

Dust, pet dander, pollen, and smoke. Each of these words can strike fear in the hearts of those who suffer from seasonal allergies, depending on what season it is. However, allergies arent only for adults to worry about. They can affect your children as well. If you find them coughing or wheezing as the seasons change, they may need a nebulizer for allergies and asthma. Sometimes, the treat isnt just seasonal. Allergens and asthma can attack all year round.

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Asthma Medicines And Competitive Sports

If you are an athlete and need to take medicine to keep your asthma under control, you need to know which inhalers and medicines are allowed.Many asthma medicines contain Beta2-Agonists, which are not allowed in competitive sport. If you need to take one of these inhalers, you need to apply for a therapeutic use exemption. VisitDrugFree Sports NZ for details.

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Understand Your Asthma Medication

There are a variety of medicines available to treat asthma, but there is no best medicine for all people. Each persons asthma is different, and your healthcare provider and healthcare team can work with you to set up the best plan for you based on your symptoms and needs.

• Do more of the things you want to do
• Have fewer asthma symptoms

People with asthma are often treated with a combination of quick-relief and long-term controller medicines.

Quick-Relief Medicine works quickly to relax your airways and help you breathe easier.

• You need to take this medicine if your asthma symptoms get worse.
• Be sure to start treatment as soon as your symptoms begin.

Long-Term Control Medicine reduces the swelling and inflammation in your airways and prevents symptoms

• You need to take these medicines every day, even when you feel well.

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What Are The Common Asthma Attack Triggers

Most asthma attacks tend to occur after coming into contact with things in your surrounding that irritate you. These substances can be referred to as triggers. Therefore, you can prevent asthma attacks by knowing your triggers and avoiding them.

For some, triggers don’t always cause immediate reactions an attack can come hours after exposure or even days later.

According to the CDC, some common asthma triggers include:

• Air pollution This includes any pollutants in the air, such as car exhausts, factory emissions, and smoke from fires, among others.

• Dust mites These are microscopic bugs living in our homes. If you are allergic to dust mites and have asthma, exposure to them can lead to an asthma attack.

• Exercise Vigorous exercise can cause an attack in some people.

• Pets If you have pet dander allergies, inhaling the dried skin flakes from your pets can irritate the airways, leading to an attack.

• Tobacco smoke If you or the people around you smoke, it can increase the risk of asthma. It is even worse in enclosed spaces like cars or enclosed rooms. If you already have asthma, you are advised to quit smoking.

• Occupational exposures Some other triggers can be in the workplace for example, certain cleaning products, dust in wood and flour, and some chemicals.

What Are The Potential Risks And Side Effects Of Drugs Used To Treat Asthma

Common side effects of short-acting asthma medications are a feeling of jitteriness, tremors, and/or heart palpitations. Hyperactivity can also occur, particularly in children.

The two most common side effects of inhaled corticosteroids are hoarseness or thrush, which is an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth. It is therefore recommended that patients using inhaled corticosteroids rinse their mouth after use. These side effects can also be minimized with proper inhaler technique. There is often concern about potential long-term side effects for inhaled corticosteroids. Numerous studies have repeatedly shown that even long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids has very few, if any, sustained significant side effects, including changes in bone health, decreased growth, or weight gain. However, the goal always remains to treat all individuals with the least amount of medication that is effective. Patients with asthma should be routinely reassessed for any appropriate changes to their medical regimen. Although uncommon, the combination asthma medications may also cause palpitations or a sense of jitteriness due to the long-acting beta-agonists.

Montelukast, the leukotriene modifier medication, may cause mood changes or sleep disturbance, particularly in children. Zileuton may cause liver inflammation, so health-care professionals should periodically monitor liver blood tests.

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Choosing The Right Asthma Delivery Device

Have you ever wondered how your doctor decides which is the best way for you to take your asthma medicine?

Options include syrups, granules, tablets, or capsules that you swallow. Or they are aerosols and powders that you inhale from a metered-dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler or nebulizer. Attaching a valved holding chamber to an MDI allows patients to direct the medicine into the airways by holding it and inhaling at their own speed.

Healthcare providers prescribe treatments effective in disease control. They also want treatments that are convenient for patients needs and lifestyles. You should be part of the decision process. Discuss with your healthcare provider your needs and lifestyle.

Here are 5 patient-focused factors that are part of the decision process:

If your asthma symptoms persist, talk with your doctor about the need to adjust your medications. Talk with your doctor about concerns over cost. Any barrier to using your medication can affect your asthma control.

Is Swimming A Better Activity For Someone With Asthma Or Can The Chlorine In Swimming Pools Be A Trigger

Swimming was recommended in the past as a good form of exercise for people with asthma as it was thought that breathing warm/moist air, rather than cold/dry air, might reduce the risk of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and encourage good breathing practices. However, some people may find that the chlorine used in swimming pools may act as a trigger for their asthma. Each persons asthma is individual to them and everyone reacts differently to different triggers. It is a good idea to avoid chlorine-based swimming pools if you are asthmatic.

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What Are The Specific Controller Medications For Asthma

The first-line controller medications for asthma based on the Expert Panel Report asthma guidelines from the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute are inhaled corticosteroids. These medications are delivered either through inhaler devices or a nebulizer and help to control inflammation in the lungs due to asthma, thus improving symptoms and decreasing the risk of exacerbations. Inhaled corticosteroids by both generic and brand names include fluticasone , budesonide , beclomethasone , mometasone , and ciclesonide .

Combination controller medications exist for patients whose asthma symptoms are not well controlled on inhaled corticosteroids alone. These medications have a long-acting beta-agonist , in addition to the inhaled corticosteroids. The combination controller medications include fluticasone/salmeterol , budesonide/formoterol , mometasone/formoterol , and fluticasone/vilanterol . These medications are available for delivery by inhaler.

A class of oral medications for asthma is the leukotriene modifiers, which act on an immune pathway in the body that is responsible for inflammation. This group of medications includes montelukast , zafirlukast , and zileuton . These medications may be used alone in milder asthma but are often used along with inhaled corticosteroids in moderate to severe asthma.

A complete list of commonly used asthma medications is as follows: