Asthma-Medicine For Treatment,Dosage.

Asthma is known as a chronic respiratory disease or condition which is caused when the airways brings up more mucus which leads to coughing and also finding it difficult to breath.

A person with asthma has fits or attacks of difficult breathing. Listen for a hissing or wheezing sound, especially when breathing out. When he or she breathes in, the skin behind his or her collar bones and between his or her ribs may suck in as he or she tries to get air.

Notice how he or she speaks. If he or she cannot finish a sentence in one breath, the attack is very severe. He or she may also be too breathless to get up from lying or sitting down. If the person cannot get enough air, his or her nails may turn blue. Usually there is no fever.

Asthma often begins in childhood and may be a problem for life. It is not contagious, but is more common in children with relatives who have asthma. It is generally worse during certain months of the year.

It is always worse at night and often comes with a dry cough. Persons who have had asthma for years may develop a condition like emphysema.

An asthma attack may be caused by eating or breathing things to which the person is allergic to. It may also be set off by a common cold. In some persons, nervousness or worry play a part in bringing on an asthma attack. In others, it may be brought on by heavy exercise, especially when the air is cold or very dry.

Persons who suffer from asthma should keep asthma medicines at home. Start using them at the first sign of wheeze or chest tightness. The following below are asthma medicines :

• Ephedrine
• Theophylline or aminophylline
• Salbutamol (albuterol)
• Epinephrine (adrenaline, Adrenalin)
• Prednisolone

EPHEDRINE

This medicine often comes in tablets of 15 mg and also 25 mg. Ephedrine is useful to control mild attack of asthma and between severe attacks to prevent them. It works by helping to open the tubes that leads into the lungs, so that air can pass more easily. It can also be used when there is difficulty breathing due to pneumonia or bronchitis.

Ephedrine often comes in combination with theophylline or aminophylline and sometimes phenobarbital. Avoid these combinations except when a single asthma medicine is not available.

Dosage of ephedrine for asthma

1 mg/kg/3 times a day when symptoms occur using 15 mg tablets. It should be given by mouth 3 times a day. In each dose, give :

• Adults : 15 to 60 mg (1 to 4 tablets)
• Children between 5 to 10 years : 15 to 30 mg (1 or 2 tablets)
• Children between 1 to 4 years : 15 mg (1 tablet)
• Children under 1 year old : Do not give

For stuffy nose, nose drops with ephedrine can be used. They can be made by dissolving 1 tablet in a teaspoon of water.

THEOPHYLLINE OR AMINOPHYLLINE

This medicine comes in tablets and syrups of different strengths. It is used for controlling asthma and preventing attacks.

Dosage

3 to 5 mg/kg every 6 hours using 100 mg tablets. Give every 6 hours.

• Adults : 2 tablets
• Children between 7 to 12 years old : 1 tablet
• Children under 7 years old : 1/2 tablet
• Babies : Do not give

In severe cases or if asthma is not controlled with the above dosage, double this dosage may be given, but not more. If the patient cannot talk, seek medical help fast.

SALBUTAMOL (albuterol)

This medicine often comes in tablets of 4 mg and syrup with 2 mg in 5 ml. It is used for controlling asthma and preventing attacks. Salbutamol can be used alone or with theophylline.

Dosage for salbutamol

0.1 mg/kg every 6 to 8 hours- using 4 mg tablets or syrup with 2 mg in 1 teaspoon. Give every 6 to 8 hours

• Adults : 1 tablet or 2 teaspoons
• Children between 6 to 12 years old : half 1/2 tablet or 1 teaspoon
• Children between 2 to 5 years old : 1/4 to 1/2 tablet or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
• Babies : Do not give

For severe asthma or if asthma is not controlled, these doses can be gradually increased until doubled.

EPINEPHRINE (adrenaline, Adrenalin)

This medicine often comes in ampules of 1 mg in 1 ml. Epinephrine should be used for :

• Severe attacks of asthma when there is trouble breathing
• Severe allergic reactions or allergic shock due to penicillin injections, tetanus antitoxin or other antitoxins made from horse serum

Dosage of epinephrine for asthma

Using ampules of 1 mg in 1 ml of liquid. First, count the pulse then inject just under the skin.

• Adults : 1/3 ml
• Children between 7 to 12 years old : 1/5 ml
• Children between 1 to 6 years old : 1/10 ml
• Children under 1 year old : Do not give

Dosage of epinephrine for allergic shock

Using ampules of 1 mg in 1 ml of liquid. Inject into the muscle :

• Adults : 1/2 ml
• Children between 7 to 12 years old : 1/3 ml
• Children between 1 to 6 years old : 1/4 ml
• Children under 1 year old : Do not give

If needed, a second dose can be given after half an hour and a third dose in another half hour. Do not give more than 3 doses. If the pulse goes up by  more than 30 beats per minute after the first injection, do not give another dose.

In using epinephrine, be careful never to give more than the recommended amount.

PREDNISOLONE

This medicine comes in tablets of 5 mg. This medicine causes suppression of inflammatory and allergic disorders.

Use for severe attacks of asthma, after having first given adrenalin. Do not continue for more than a few days. With short courses, there is no need to tail off the dose gradually. A long course may be required for leprosy to reverse early onset of nerve damage. After 2 to 4 weeks of the full dosage, gradual tailing off is necessary. You can seek medical advice.

CAUTION : Do not use in persons who have had stomach ulcers or tuberculosis.

Dosage of prednisolone (short course)

Give as a single dose each morning after breakfast for up to 7 days.

• Adults : 20 to 30 mg (4 to 6 tablets)
• Children between 7 to 12 years old : 10 to 15 mg (2 to 3 tablets)
• Children between 2 to 6 years old : 5 mg (1 tablet)

ASTHMA TREATMENT

• If asthma gets worse inside the house, the person should go outside to a place where the air is clean. Remain calm and be gentle with the person. Reassure him or her.
• Give a lot of liquids. This loosens mucus and makes breathing easier. Breathing water vapor may also help.
• For mild attacks, give ephedrine, theophylline or salbutamol.
• If the asthma attack is especially bad, inject Adrenalin. Adults 1/2 ampule; Children 1/4 ampule. You can repeat the dose every half hour, as needed up to 3 times. Also give prednisolone 5 mg. Tablets, 4 to 6 tablets each morning for a week. Inject Adrenalin just under the skin (raise the skin).
• If the person has a fever or if the phlegm is colored green or yellow, give tetracycline capsules or erythromycin.
• If the person does not get better, seek immediate medical attention or help. Certain drugs taken by breathing them in through the nose or the mouth are now available. These inhalers give much better control of the asthma and may prevent the bad spasms returning. However, they are expensive and may need to be taken for many years.

ASTHMA PREVENTION

• A person with asthma should avoid eating or breathing things that bring on attacks.
• The house or work place should be kept clean.
• Do not let chickens or other animals inside.
• Prevent bats nesting in the roof space.
• Put bedding out to air in the sunshine.
• Sometimes it helps to sleep outside in the open air.
• Persons with asthma may improve when they move to a different area where the air is cleaner.
• In particular, they should try to avoid chemical fumes, industrial dusts, paint sprays and pesticides.

NOTE : If you have asthma, do not smoke; smoking damages your lungs even more.