Asthma and COPD Medication

If you have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it can be difficult to decide which medications will work best for your treatment.

Here’s a brief summary of the major classes of medications:

Aspirin and petaloids

Aspirin and petaloids are two types of medication used to treat asthma and COPD. They work in different ways, but both can be helpful for people with these conditions—aspirin primarily relieves symptoms like pain or swelling; petaloids open airways by relaxing muscles in the lungs.

Aspirin is a type of medication used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, substances made by your body that cause inflammation in your lungs.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are drugs that suppress the immune system by reducing inflammation. They’re used to treat conditions like asthma and COPD, as well as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and skin disorders such as eczema

When you take corticosteroids (steroid hormones), it’s important to know how much they’ll affect your body. Some people may have a problem with their immune system when taking certain types of steroids—for example, if you have a condition called Cushing’s syndrome or osteoarthritis. If so, it’s best not to take them at all until the condition improves or disappears completely.

Immunomodulators

Immuno modulators are medication classes that suppress the immune system. They are used in asthma and COPD to slow symptoms, improve lung function, and prevent lung damage.

Immuno modulator therapy is typically initiated with a combination of two or three medications:

• Montelukast (Singulair) – This anticholinergic agent inhibits histamine release from mast cells in the lungs; it also works by blocking leukotriene modifiers that cause inflammation. It may be given alone or in combination with other antihistamines such as cromolyn sodium (an inhaled corticosteroid).
• Fluticasone propionate (Flovent HFA) – This long-acting steroid reduces inflammation by suppressing recruitment of leukocytes into inflamed airways

Leukotriene modifiers

Leukotriene modifiers are a group of medications that treat asthma and COPD. They work by decreasing production of leukotrienes, which are compounds that cause inflammation and pain in the airways.

Asthma and COPD meds can be confusing, but here’s a cheat sheet to help you understand which medications are right for you.

Asthma and COPD medication can be confusing, but here’s a cheat sheet to help you understand which medications are right for you.

• Aspirin: This medication prevents blood from clotting in the lungs, which helps prevent lung inflammation. It also reduces airway smooth muscle contraction (which is what causes bronchoconstriction), but aspirin may not work for everyone with asthma or COPD. Use it if your doctor recommends it as part of an asthma treatment plan or if your symptoms are severe enough that they make breathing difficult on their own.* Petaloids: These medicines relax smooth muscle in the airways so that they open up more easily during inhalation.* Corticosteroids: These hormone-like drugs reduce inflammation by preventing leukotriene production within the body’s cells.* Immunomodulators: These medicines increase white blood cell count levels so that they can fight off infections more effectively.* Leukotriene modifiers: These modify how leukotrienes act within the body’s cells (it reduces their effects on other parts).

Conclusion

Asthma and COPD medications can be confusing, but the truth is that most people don’t need the same medication for both conditions. With some tools and knowledge, you can choose your medications wisely.