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What are Bronchodilators?
Bronchodilators are drugs used in treatment of COPD (chronic obstructive airway disease) and reversible obstructive airway diseases such as asthma. Purdue Pharma currently has two bronchodilator products: Uniphyl and PhylloContin.
Once-daily Uniphyl tablets are a sustained release formulation of theophylline used to treat symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Theophylline eases the cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing associated with these conditions by relaxing and opening the bronchial tubes allowing increased amounts of air to flow into the lungs.
PhylloContin tablets contain aminophylline, which is used to treat symptoms of asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It relaxes and opens air passages in the lungs, making it easier to breathe.
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What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation (the swelling
and irritation of the airways) and bronchoconstriction (the tightening of
the muscles surrounding the airways). Airflow in and out of the lungs may
be blocked due to these changes.
The basic cause of asthma is not yet known but the airway inflammation is
due to an immune-mediated process in which inflammatory cells and inflammatory
mediators enter airway tissues to cause disease. Asthma causes the airway
to become hypersensitive to stimuli or triggers such air pollutants (i.e.
cigarette smoke; wood smoke; scented products such as hair spray, cosmetics,
and cleaning products; strong odours from fresh paint or cooking; automobile
fumes; smog), pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, cockroaches, chemicals,
exercise, foods or even changes in temperature. The factors that cause asthma
symptoms can be different for each person.
The main symptoms of asthma are:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Tightness in the chest
- Persistent Cough
- Dyspnea (difficult, laboured, uncomfortable breathing)
For most asthma sufferers these symptoms appear in episodes called exacerbations,
asthma attacks or asthma crises. A small number of people experience these
symptoms all the time with no free periods.
During an asthma attack, the smooth muscles of the bronchi will go into
spasms, causing the tissue lining in the airways to swell and secrete
mucus into the airway making it difficult to breathe.
Unfortunately there is no cure for asthma, but there are treatments to
help relieve asthma attacks and long-term preventative medications. Some
of the medicines are meant to relax the airways while others reduce or
may prevent the swelling and mucus. Treatments vary from patient to patient.
Sudden attacks of asthma are usually treated with beta agonists in the
form of bronchodilators and anticholinergic drugs. Long-term preventative
medications include theophylline, corticosteroids, cromolyn, nedocromil,
and leukotriene modifiers.
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What is Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?
Unlike asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible
disease associated with airflow obstruction. It includes emphysema and
chronic bronchitis and is one of the commonest respiratory conditions
of adults in the developed world. The most common symptom is shortness
of breath and cough.
Emphysema causes irreversible lung damage. It's characterized by
the enlargement (over inflation) and destruction (weakening and breaking)
of the air sacs (alveoli) within the lungs. As a result, elasticity of
the lung tissue is lost, causing airways to collapse and obstructing airflow
making it difficult to breathe.
Chronic Bronchitis is the inflammation and eventual scarring of
the airway tubes (bronchi). It increases mucus in the airways and increases
bacterial infections in the bronchial tubes, which, in turn, impedes airflow.
The main symptoms of COPD are:
- Chronic cough
- Wheezing
- Increased mucus
- Shortness of breath (not being able to get
enough air)
- Limitation of physical activity
COPD is a slow progressive disease whose symptoms may only be present
during exertion. Later they be present all the time even when at rest.
Eventually they may exacerbate to the point of frequent hospitalizations
and constant need of oxygen.
The most important risk factor in the development of COPD is cigarette
smoking
Smoking causes about 80 percent to 90 percent of COPD cases and although
quitting will not reverse the progress of COPD it will decrease the
progress of the disease. Other risk factors of COPD include genetic
causes, air pollution, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectesis, and childhood
infection.
Although COPD is irreversible, there are a number of pharmacological
treatments that can greatly improve the symptoms and quality of life
of patients with COPD. These include bronchodilators (beta-agonists,
anticholinergics, and theophylline), anti-inflammatory drugs (steroids),
antibiotics, mukolytics (mucus thinners), oxygen therapy, and pulmonary
rehabilitation.
For further information on asthma or COPD, please contact your health-care
professional.
Disclaimer: The information contained on these pages is not
meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases or other health issues.
These web pages also do not recommend self-diagnosis or self-medication
and are in no way to be construed as medical advice. If you have a medical
condition, please consult a health-care professional.
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