Drug induced lung disease is a common clinical problem that develop in a patient who has no previous history of pulmonary disease, according to Merck.com. When certain drugs are used for a long time, changes can occur in the way the lungs function. This can result in lung tissue damage and the development of symptoms such as shortness of breath. Merck.com further reports that more than 150 drugs or categories of drugs have been reported so far that can induce moderate to severe types of lung diseases.
Aspirin
Drugs.com defines aspirin as one of the most common drugs that is used for reducing pain, fever, inflammation and blood clotting. Sometimes aspirin is also used to treat heart attacks, strokes and angina under the supervision of a physician. According to a 2001 article published in the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine," researchers reported that aspirin use can cause aspirin triad in certain aspirin sensitive patients. Aspirin triad is a syndrome that is characterized by the presence of asthma, nasal polyps, or inflammatory overgrowth of nasal mucosa and drug sensitivity. This means that aspirin can cause increasing breathing difficulties in asthma patients by affecting the airways. Aspirin causes an excess production of leukotrienes in the body, which can cause contraction of the muscle tissue around the bronchial tubes. This leads to wheezing and shortness of breath. Patients experiencing such symptoms, are advised to stop aspirin use.
Amiodarone
As described by Drugs.com, amiodarone is an antiarrthymic drug that is used to control heart rhythm in life-threatening heart rhythm disorders. As reported in a 2001 article published in the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine," amiodarone is a cardiovascular drug that can cause different patterns of pulmonary toxicity, which describes all lung-related side effects. Pulmonary toxicity is a result of immunological disorders, direct toxicity to the lung cells, and the effect of free radicals. Primary treatment in such cases is to stop amiodarone immediately.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are drugs that cause dilation of the small arteries, and help reduce blood pressure. A 2001 article published in the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine" states that these drugs have a potential to induce dry, persistent, and nocturnal cough in about 3% to 20% of patients. These conditions are serious enough to discontinue the drug in such patients.
Methotrexate
According to a 1997 study published in the journal "Annals of Internal Medicines," methotrexate-induced lung injury is common among patients with risk factors like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and previous lung disorder. Methotrexate can result in pulmonary complications like shortness of breath and dry cough. However, corticosteroid therapy and withdrawal of methotrexate usually halts the pulmonary complications. Methotrexate is a drug that interferes with growth of cancers of the breast, skin, head, neck and lungs.
References
- Merck Manual: Drug-Induced Pulmonary Disease
- Drug Information Online: Aspirin
- Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: Drug-induced lung disease; Metin Ozkan et al; September 2001
- Drug Information Online: Amiodarone
- Annals of Internal Medicine: Risk Factors for Methotrexate-Induced Lung Injury in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Multicenter, Case-Control Study
