Common Types of Respiratory Medications Used for Treating Breathing Problems

Respiratory medicines are designed to assist you breathe better while treating different kinds of breathing problems such as wheezing and shortness of breath. This can include inhaling medications with nebulizer devices in a mist-like form. Various kinds of medicines can be recommended by doctors for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, asthma and more and include the following:

Antimicrobial medications

These are used for the treatment of breathing infections.

Corticosteroids

These are actually a type of steroid which is designed to reduce swelling in the airways.

Bronchodilator medications

These medications are used to open and relax the air passages. There are two types of bronchodilator medications – short-acting beta agonists and long-acting beta agonists.

Short-acting beta agonists can open and relax airways which have narrowed for quick relief of asthma symptoms.

Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) are medicines that relax and open the airways and keep them open for up to 12 hours allowing for better airflow. These medications only have to be used one to two times daily.

Racemic epinephrine

This is used for treating croup, severe attacks of asthma and other emergency respiratory cases.

Mucolytics

Such kinds of drugs are used for thinning, loosening, and clearing out secretions of mucus from lungs.

Combination medications

Albuterol/ipratropium are the combination drugs which are generally found to be very useful for alleviating respiratory symptoms.

IV antibiotics

These can be used for the treatment of acute cases of infection, such as bacterial pneumonia or bacterial bronchitis. These are used in an intravenous manner for curing the respiratory problems of patients.

Supplemental oxygen

It can be used for raising the level of oxygen in bloodstream. Doctors can recommend steps for the treatment of thick mucus, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and inflammation in the air passage. Some methods can be taught by a nurse or a respiratory therapist to allow you to conduct those at home.

As always, see your physician if you experience any breathing problems. America’s Best Care Plus can deliver many of these respiratory medications right to you door, making it easier to breathe a sigh of relief when you need your prescriptions. With a quick click, you can even request refills online or by calling 800-638-6305.