A type of bronchodilator, aminophylline is a type of muscle relaxation medicine that helps lungs and chest circulate oxygen better. It is used to treat and prevent wheezing, restricted breathing and shortness of breath. The medicine is usually prescribed to those with bronchitis, asthma and lung diseases. As this medication requires a prescription, it is very important for a user to follow the instructions prescribed and take only at the times and the amount prescribed by his or her physician. Aminophylline can be in the form of liquid syrup, a pill or a cream. How this drug works is by making the lungs less sensitive to any allergens or foreign substances that may be inhaled, thus causing the muscles to relax in the chest and lungs and opening up the air passages so that breathing can be easier. It also increases the contractions in the diaphragm which aids better breathing patterns. If an individual is prescribed aminophylline, he or she should inform the doctor of any allergies that they might have and if he or she is taking any other medication and the time. This way the doctor would be better able to access the situation and provide any information or solution that might be needed to prevent any unwanted reactions. Also, medication such as over-the-counter or cold medicines can contain ephedrine, phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine which can have adverse and unwanted reactions when taken together with aminophylline. A user should check the labels of medications carefully
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diagnoses encountered in a primary care setting. It affects millions of individuals resulting in significant impact on health of patients and health care industry. Studies have shown that 90% of times acute bronchitis is caused by a virus, yet health care providers are failing to treat or manage these patients with appropriate therapies (Knutson & Braun, 2002). The focus of this paper is to review the guidelines for treatment of acute bronchitis after differentiating acute bronchitis from other common respiratory disease in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, complications and patient education. Understanding the evaluation and treatment guidelines, nurse practitioners can provide evidence-based practice for patients with acute bronchitis.
Albuterol relaxes the muscles in the bronchioles so that the bronchospasm is relieved and normal breathing can resume. Albuterol relaxes the smooth muscle by decreasing calcium ions. (Rxlistcom, 2016)
Theophylline is one example of xanthine that is usually used to treat bronchial asthma through relaxing the airways. However, this drug may cause severe adverse effects because of its level in the blood. Thus, it is important to teach patient about the use of theophylline. Teach a patient that theophylline can help him to breath easier, decrease wheeze and short of breath if taken exactly as prescribed. The nurse should also tell the patient take the drug of an empty stomach with a full 8-ounc glass of water. If patient has a severe GI problem such as GI upset, nausea, vomiting, heartburn when taking the drug on an empty stomach, the patient may take the drug with food. The patient should swallow all the enteric-coated or time-release capsules. Educating the patient about other common effect of the drug includes restlessness, nervousness, and difficulty in sleeping because of the need of the body to adjust to the usage of this drug. The patient should not take any other stimulant in order to reduce the effect of theophylline on CNS. The nurse should tell the patient that a headache will go away as the patient get used to the drug. However, the patient should notify his physician if the headache is getting worse. The patient should also report any vomiting, severe abdominal pain, tachycardia, confusion, unusual tiredness, muscle twitching, rash, or hives to the physician. There are many drug and food interaction, thus the patient should consult with the doctor about his diet while using theophylline. Additionally, the patient should consult his smoking habit and the use of any over-the-counter medication with the physician. Lastly, the patient should always tell any health care provider in his care about the use of theophylline and to keep the medication in a safe place (Karch, 2013, p.
Theophylline is a bronchodilator used in the treatment of asthma, it has a low molecular weight of 180.2. It is slightly acidic, when in a saturated solution of water and has a pKa of 8.81.
According to an journal publication on the benefits of Theophylline “It is now apparent that patients taking theophylline may enjoy clinically important benefits in terms of functional status and quality of life, beyond simple bronchodiolation, as a result of theophylline's impact
There are many different ways to treat and manage asthma symptoms. Usually steroids are used to take care of asthma but there are some other treatments too. Bronchodilators are one of those treatments. There are many kinds of bronchodilators and work by opening the airway. A few different bronchodilators are Short-term B2 agonists and Long-term B2 agonists. Short term bronchodilators are what rescue inhalers primarily are. These “provide quick, temporary relief from asthma symptoms or flare-ups” says Gstatic.com Long-term B2 agonists are preventatives to try and not let symptoms arrive in the first place. Steroids and steroidal inhalers are some more short term symptom managers. They work by stimulating hormones in your body to reduce inflammation
Melinda, I also have the same concern when it comes to side effects and furthermore allergies. This issue can definetely be drawback as it can contribute to non-complience and perhaps even life threathening related to allergies. I think it would be difficult to determine which drug could be the trigger for such reactions. If I was to be the health care provider prescribing this pill I would take into consideration, if the patient had taken any of this drugs separatly prior, to make an assessment if weather it would be a good candidate for the polypill.
Particular caution needs to be taken with the use of theophylline in older people because of differences in pharmacokinetics, the increased likelihood of comorbidities and the use of other medications.
Keep a Medication Chart of all medication, over-the-counter, and herbal supplementals. It will be easier to stay aware of what and when medications have been taken, discontinued, or there was an allergy reaction.
Prescription and over-the-counter drug use in America has increased steeply over the past fifty years. This is a cause for concern. Too often, these medications only treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause of the disease. And they all come with dangerous side effects. Adverse drug reactions are America’s fourth leading cause of death. Do not assume that OTC medications are safe. They can cause serious adverse reactions on their own and also interact with prescribed drugs to increase risk.
Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory infection caused commonly by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the first two years of life. Nearly every child in the United States will be infected with RSV before its second birthday. The condition is a leading cause of hospital admissions among children under the age of two. The populations most frequently and severely affected by bronchiolitis include; infants less than 12 months of age, children born at a low gestational age (less than 32 weeks), and children with chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease, or immunodeficiency. Standardized and proper diagnosis and management are essential to effective treatment. The guideline established by the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2014 provides practitioners with recommendations for diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis in children.
Used to treat respiratory tract disorders, relieve cough associated with thickened mucous and poor mucus clearance.
Asthma is best described as a chronic inflammation the pulmonary lower airways because of hyperresponsiveness of lower airway obstructions that is usually reversible (Fireman, 2003). Asthma is triggered by cold air, exercise, viral upper respiratory infections, cigarette smoking, and respiratory allergens. One in 12 people in the United States has been diagnosed with asthma which is approximately 25 million people which accounts for 8% of the total population (AAAAI, 2016). It is estimated that the average cost for care of asthma in the United States is about $3,300.00 yearly in related medical expenses, missed school, missed worked days and early death (AAAAI, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to describe the long-term treatment
If all methods, mentioned in the previous article about bronchitis curing, are not helpful, it is time to take meaningful steps. However, only pediatrician can prescribe all drugs. Never make experiments and self-medicate. If you see, the situation is getting worse, call for a doctor.
This paper will discuss a case study of Liam, a three-month-old boy who is transferred from the General Practitioner (GP) to paediatric ward with bronchiolitis. Initially, Liam’s chief health issues will be identified, following by nursing assessment and diagnoses of the child’s need. Focus will be made on the management of two major health problems: respiratory distress and dehydration, and summary and evaluation of the interventions with evidence of learning. Lastly, a conclusion of author’s self-evaluation will be present.