Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators such as β₂-agonists and methylxanthines provide relief from asthma attacks and intermittent asthma symptoms, but do not tackle the underlying inflammation associated with the disease.

Short-acting β₂-agonists are used to provide relief from acute symptoms associated with asthma attacks and bronchoconstriction. They are not used to maintain long-term asthma control and are recommended only for symptom relief.¹

Long-acting β₂-agonists (LABAs) elicit bronchodilation and maintain long-term asthma control,¹ but must be delivered together with other controller medications (such as an inhaled corticosteroid) due to recent evidence suggesting an increased risk of severe exacerbation of asthma symptoms in some patients.²*

The side effects of β₂-agonists arise from unwanted systemic effects of these drugs on β₂ receptors outside the lungs, and include headache, heart palpitations and difficulty sleeping.

* In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication that LABAs should only be used together with asthma controller medications and for the shortest period of time required to achieve asthma control. They recommend that once asthma is controlled, patients should be maintained on controller medications if possible.²

For further information please refer to the full FDA Drug Safety Communication available here.

References:

From the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2011. Available from: http://www.ginasthma.org/.
From Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available from: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/. Accessed 20th July 2011