Asthma Medications And Their Side Effects

There's a lot that goes into an asthma medication. The beauty of an asthma medication is that it is taken in such a way that it is directly deposited in the lungs. Like all other medications these medicines need to be taken with utmost care and they come with a lot of side effects. Now the thing with asthma medications is that the side effects of inhaled medicines are usually associated with how they are taken in addition to what.

The most common of all asthma medicines is Albuterol perhaps. Many different names are given to this medicine such as Ventolin and Proventil, but basically the drug is the same. This asthma medication inhaled through a small tool called a metered dose inhaler or an MDI. Many people like calling it a puffer as well. When the canister of this device is pushed a fine mist is released. Some people use a nebulizer for it as well especially for the young children. Albuterol can be inhaled through a device called the Rotacap when it's in a fine powdered form.

What this medicine does is that directly hits the tissues in the lungs. But of course asthma medication and their side effects go side by side and in the case of this typical drug they are mainly an increase in heart rate, slight upset stomach, and feeling a little "hyper". Now why does this happen? Basically when we inhale the medicine through our mouth some of the medication doesn't make it because it hits the walls of the mouth and gets swallowed; through where it gets absorbed in the rest of the body.

Now how can this be avoided? Actually by maximizing the amount of this medicine that makes it to the lungs while minimizing the amount deposited in the mouth. You can achieve it through many various ways. If you are using a metered dose inhaler (MDI or puffer), you should ideally use a spacer to breathe through; instead of inserting the MDI directly into the mouth. Many people these days are using the Rotocaps which can be directly inhaled into the lungs by the person using it. although there is this problem with the Rotocaps that some of it could be remained in the mouth, many people are now finding it extremely easier to use an MDI instead.

Asthma medications and their side effects come with each other. The only way to avoid these terrible side effects is maybe to master the way you are inhaling your specific treatment. Now as far as propellants are concerned, there is no association between them and asthma symptoms. Now in some studies it seems that the propellant may make their asthma symptoms a little worse a few minutes after using the MDI. But propellants alone cannot cause an asthma attack at all. well many asthma specialists suggest that if you are for example using an MDI you should use a spacer with it which in addition to minimizing the side effects will also provide the patients with more medication with each puff where it is needed most.