Asthma specific agents

Starting doses > 100 meg twice/day for adults and adolescents and 50 meg twice daily for children 4 to 11 years of age may be considered for patients with poorer asthma control or those who have previously required doses of inhaled corticosteroids that are in the higher range for that specific agent. ... 

Specific agents used in bronchial asthma are discussed here. 

List the diseases prescnbed for the payment of disablement benefit, if related to specific occupations. Conditions due to chemical agents, e.g. poisoning by any of a range of chemicals and certain carcinomas, and miscellaneous conditions, e.g. pneumoconiosis, asthma, diffuse mesothelioma, non-mfective dermatitis are included. 

The action of epinephrine and related agents forms the basis of therapeutic control of smooth muscle contraction. Breathing disorders, including asthma and various allergies, can result from excessive contraction of bronchial smooth muscle tissue. Treatment with epinephrine, whether by tablets or aerosol inhalation, inhibits MLCK and relaxes bronchial muscle tissue. More specific bronchodilators, such as albuterol (see figure), act more selec-... 

Nonselective beta blockers affect beta-2 receptors on the lungs as well as beta-1 receptors on the heart, and these nonselective agents can increase bronchocon-striction in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Hence, a drug that is more specific for beta-1 receptors is preferred in these patients. Beta blockers can also produce excessive slowing of cardiac conduction in some patients, resulting in an increase in arrhythmias. Severe adverse reactions are rare, however, and beta blockers are well-tolerated by most patients when used appropriately to treat arrhythmias. 

Cromones such as cromolyn sodium (Intal, Nasal-crom) and nedocromil sodium (Tilade) can help prevent bronchospasm in people with asthma. These drugs are not bronchodilators and will not reverse bronchoconstriction during an asthmatic attack. Hence, these agents must be taken prior to the onset of bronchoconstriction, and they must typically be administered prophylactically to prevent asthma attacks that are initiated by specific, well-defined activities (e.g., exercise, exposure to a friend s pet, pollen).107 Likewise, the regular use of these drugs several times each day for several months may decrease airway hyperresponsiveness so that the incidence of asthmatic attacks decreases.102,113... 

Bloodroot is believed to act as an expectorant, spasmolytic, emetic, cathartic, antiseptic, cardioactive agent, topical irritant, and escharotic (scab-producing). Traditionally, it is taken for bronchitis (subacute or chronic), asthma, croup, laryngitis, pharyngitis, deficient capillary circulation, nasal polyps (as a snuff), and specifically for asthma and bronchitis with feeble peripheral circulation. 

---