Asthma is a respiratory disease which is chronic and is characterized by attacks of wheezing, a tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. When your airways become inflamed and constrict, it makes it hard to get a deep breath. Asthma is treated by anti-spasmodic medications which are called bronchodilators and are taken most often by inhalation nebulizer therapy. A nebulizer is a machine in which asthma medications are taken deeply into the lungs. It consists of an air compressor built into a small box-like device and has a small cup attached to contain medication. A hose with a mouthpiece guides the medication into your lungs.
Albuterol
Albuterol is a medication used to treat asthma that is delivered to your lungs via a nebulizer. Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator that causes your airways to relax. This allows air to be inhaled and exhaled freely by the lungs. It is can be used in combination with steroids when you are suffering from severe asthmatic symptoms.
Ipratropium Bromide
A nebulizer machine is used to deliver medication such as ipratropium bromide, an anti-cholinergic medication which is a short-acting bronchodilator. This medication opens up the airways of the lungs. This makes it easier to breathe. This medication helps stop the wheezing or high-pitched noises in your airways and controls the spasms there as well. It is known as an anti-spasmodic medication. This medication is used along side of albuterol since albuterol does work faster to stop the effects of asthma. Together, albuterol and ipratropium bromide are called a duo-neb treatment. The medicine is mixed together by the pharmaceutical company and comes in pre-mixed vials. While both are bronchodilators, albuterol is classified as a sympathomimetic---a drug that imitates your sympathetic nervous system---and ipratropium is categorized as an anticholinergic, which works as a blockade for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
Levalbuterol
Xopenex (generically, levalbuterol) is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that quickly responds to relieve the symptoms related to acute asthma such as shortness of breath. It only can be used twice a week for asthmatic symptoms and if the need occurs more frequently, your doctor needs to be aware of it. She will need to adjust the medications you use to treat your asthma symptoms. This medication is used to relax the smooth muscle around the airways.
