Quick-acting relievers
Written by Clive Chung on 2:43 AMThese drugs include Ventolin, Aerolin, Salbulin and Bricanyl (terbutaline). They are, as I've said before, the rescue team that dilate the airways and get you breathing. Their effects last for up to four hours and the most common side-effect is tremor in the hands. These drugs are based on adrenaline, a substance produced by the adrenal glands in times of stress or, of course, when taking exercise. The adrenaline opens up the airways and makes the heart beat faster, preparing the body for action.
These adrenaline-based bronchodilators are known as beta-agonists and they work by relaxing the muscles that surround the airways. They do not bring down the inflammation or swelling so do not in any way effect a cure. You only take them to counteract symptoms or before exercise. As a general rule you should not need to use these drugs more than once a day, other than for short periods when, for example, you have a cold. In these circumstances they can be used regularly for two or three days. Under normal circumstances if you find you are using them more than that, take it as an indication that your asthma may be getting worse or is out of control. To counteract this, examine the use of your preventer drug - have you been taking it regularly as prescribed? If not, that could be the answer. If you have been keeping to the management schedule, it may mean that you will have to step up the dose of your preventer treatment, at least for a while.
The other thing to think about is the trigger factor. Is there something you could avoid out there? There is no point in increasing the dose of your reliever drug if it will not bring the condition under control.
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