Non steroid inhalers.

[Atom1]

Please. Can anyone advice me on the names of non steroid inhalers .?

[risabel59]

Hi Atom,

There are 4 Types of Non Steroid inhaler used in Asthma.

1)Sodium Cromoglycate: is a preventer, trade name Intal. It works on the MAST cells.

This was prescribed a lot in the 60's and 70's when it was a new drug. For some people it works well.

2) Salbutamol: Is a Fast acting Bronchodilator, ( trade name, Albuterol, Ventolin, Salmol) which allows your lungs to take in more oxygen, but does not treat any underlying inflammation. Almost every one with asthma has one of these as a rescue inhaler.

3) Long Acting Beta Agonists (LABA's): these keep the airways open for 12 hours or more (Trade names: Salmeterol, Formeterol). They are not prescribed for people with asthma without a steroid inhaler. Although they are sometimes prescribed for people with COPD without steroids

4) Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonists (LAMA's) Trade name Spiriva. These act to relax the muscles in the lungs. They are normally prescribed as an add on to steroid inhalers, but there have been trials in asthma to see if they work on their own.

There are many different versions of the above drugs, but they are all in these four categories. Hope this helps.

R

[Atom1 in reply to risabel59]

Thanks.

[Atom1 in reply to risabel59]

Thanks

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

In case you were also interested in non-inhaled asthma drugs, a couple more:

Montekulast tablets: leukotriene receptor antagonist. Doesn't work for everyone but can be very effective for some people. Meant to be especially good for allergic asthma and exercise induced asthma but has helped me too and I hve neither of those. Can be prescribed in primary care anàd often is.

Theophylline/aminophylline: can be daily preventer tablets or given as IV in acute attacks. Was a key treatment before steroids but less popular now because of side effects and concerns about toxic doses (it can be quite individual in how much is helpful or toxic). The exact mechanism is a bit of mystery but appears to both open the airways and reduce inflammation. More unusual these days and mostly in secondary care when other things have not helped. Some people have had awful side effects but I love this one and have argued to keep it.

[Atom1 in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks

[emmasue in reply to Lysistrata]

Is it unusual to take both? I do. I don't know if the montelukast helps. The Aminophylline seems to make a difference.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to emmasue]

Same here - been on and off montekulast and it seems to help less every time, though was good to start with. Trying it again now through lack of other options nd think it may be helping a little. I do like the aminophylline and definitely notice if I miss it, so have argued twice to keep it. I was worried about side effects when I started but has been fine.

[emmasue in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks. It's good to know that I am not the only one. 😊

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to emmasue]

I take all sorts to make up for not having the right sort of asthma for any of the new drugs! Got annoyed with cons for trying to take the aminophylline off me when he hs nothing better lol. It all helps a bit and I am worse if I miss anything (also have Spiriva and Fostair Nexthaler).

[emmasue in reply to Lysistrata]

So far they haven't taken it from me. I also have Spirits but Symbicort for my main inhaler. But for some reason, it's a lower dose! I don't know why they don't increase it. Also I take a 5mg maintenance dose of pred. I had cetirizine and pseudoephedrine, but the ENT took them away and gave me Dymista. I lothe nose sprays. My nose always starts bleading. But will give it a go. I think this current down turn is because I have been trying to clean over the holidays and the dust did me in. It happens every time. I think I should get a mask but I hate wearing them. The air gets too warm and I feel like I can't breathe. I have too many dislikes! Oh well, I suppose it could be worse. 😝

[Atom1 in reply to emmasue]

👍