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Is anyone else confused about all those inhalers?
Is Anyone Else Confused by all the inhalers prescribed for our lungs?
After a lengthy visit with my pulmonologist yesterday, I came away with a new set of medications and a whole lot of confusion!
This morning, I sat down and made list of all the drugs I use/have used, all the drugs we talked about yesterday, and several that have been suggested or mentioned here on Connect. Then I got busy and figured out what they are and why we use them.
Here is a summary…incomplete for sure, listing the classes of drugs with a short explanation of each class, and individual drug names (not the Brand Name or Combo name).
“Rescue” drugs – may be inhalers, or in some cases nebulizer solutions
Short Acting Beta Agonist (SABA) Opens airways quickly, relaxes airways, but doesn’t last long
• Albuterol (Common Brand Names: ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil)
• Levalbuterol (Xopenex)
• Salbutamol
Short Acting Muscarinic Agonist (SAMA) Like SABA, opens airways, or prevents bronchospasm. Less often used than SABA
• Irpatropium Bromide (Atrovent)
• Tiotropium Bromide (Spiriva)
Long Term or Daily Use Medications
Inhaled Steroids Direct dosage to lungs compared to oral steroids which are systemic. Reduces inflammation which helps keep airways open.
Inhaled Corticosteroid (ICS)
• Budosenide (Pulmicort, Entocort, Rhinocort)
• Mometasone (only in combinations)
Inhaled Glucosteroid (IGS)
• Fluticasone Propionate (Flovent, Allerflo)
Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA) Acts to keep airways open – usually used in combination with an inhaled steroid
• Formoterol Fumarate (Foradil)
• Salmeterol Xinafoate (Serevent)
• Vilanterol (only in combinations)
Long Acting Muscarinic Agents (LAMA) Relaxes muscles around airways for 12-24 hours to reduce asthma attacks
• Tiotropium bromide (Spiriva)
• Umeclidinium bromide (Incruse)
Here is a summary of the most commonly prescribed Name Brand medications and what drugs are in each one.
Advair - Fluticasone propionate (IGS), Salmeterol (LABA)
AirDuo - Fluticasone propionate (IGS), Salmeterol (LABA)
Anoro- Umeclidineum (LAMA), Vilanterol (LABA)
Breo - Fluticasone Furoate(ICS), Vilanterol (LABA)
Combivent - Irpatropium Bromide (SAMA), Albuterol (SABA)
Dulera - Mometasone (ICS), Formoterol (LABA)
DuoNeb - Irpatropium Bromide (SAMA), Albuterol (SABA)
Nebulizer Solution
Symbicort - Budosenide (ICS), Formoterol (LABA)
Trelegy - Fluticasone (IGS), Umeclidinium (LAMA), Vilanterol
(LABA) Explanation
This is not a list of inhalers you should use, just a list of those that are often used for Asthma, Bronchiectasis & COPD - some of us have only one of these diseases, some of us have several.
I have attached a PDF file if you would like to print this list.
Sue
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@sueinmn I’m trying to research and figure this out . I stopped the trelogy for 10 days . Felt I had to take it . I just need the right protical
@alicebrew1 What specifically are you trying to figure out? Are you experiencing side effects? Do you feel it is not effective for you? Why was it prescribed? How long ago? Do you have other health conditions? Have you talked to the prescriber about your concerns?
@alicebrew1 I used to use Trelegy and when I was at NJH for BE and MABC, the ID Dr and Pulm told me they would like to see me get off it since I got off them once before and due to inhaled corticoids inhibiting the lung immune system. With BE, there is a higher risk of NTM infections with inhaled steroid use. Years ago, I was diagnosed with reactive airway disease (at NJH) and later with asthma (by local Pulm)-which may or may not have been confused with BE. NJH recently retested me for asthma (NOx and methyl choline challenge) and results were negative for asthma. The Pulm there recommended Anoro. Unfortunately, my insurance doesn't cover Anoro, so my local Pulm put me on AirSupra which is short acting, about 4-6 hours. Though, I have now been able to reduce my use of the AirSupra, I would still like to eliminate inhaled steroids completely. My local Pulm has suggested I try Brinsupri to help with the inflammation-among other things, but I'm wondering if that too could reduce immunity in the lungs. I don't know, so interested if that topic has come up.