PBL Case - 2
PBL Case - 2
Q18:- List the main routes by which drugs are given to asthmatic
patients (inhaled/nebulized, oral, intravenous) and outline
advantages and disadvantages of each.
Oral drug administration is simple, but, until recently, oral asthma therapy has primarily consisted
of sustained-release theophylline and glucocorticoids. Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic
index, necessitating regular monitoring of serum drug concentrations, and long term oral
glucocorticoid therapy is associated with potentially serious adverse events including osteoporosis
with bone fracture.
Same rules imply to intravenous drug administration only difference is The intravenous route is
indicated in cases of non-rapid improvement in patients' receiving inhaled treatment. And drugs
given via an IV are usually Corticosteroids
Inhaled/Nebulized – Advantages and Disadvantages (Explain the same for Q- Revise the use of
inhalers focusing more on advantages)
METERED DOSE INHALER :- Remove the cap and hold the inhaler in an upright position.
If your doctor recommends that you use a spacer, then you may do so. A spacer protects
your throat from irritation when you inhale the medication.
Stand or sit up straight and shake the inhaler.
Press the inhaler to release the medicine and start breathing slowly. Breathe in slowly for 3-5
seconds.
Repeat puffs as advised by your doctor. Wait for at least a minute before you take your
second puff.
DRY POWDER INHALER :-
Remove the inhaler cap, if there is one.
Add a dose of medicine as instructed by your doctor.
Hold the inhaler away from your mouth while you breathe out. It is important to remember to
not breathe out into the inhaler as this can blow some of the powder medicine out of the
inhaler.
Place the inhaler’s mouthpiece in your mouth. Inhale quickly and through your mouth for 2 or
3 seconds. After you have inhaled the powder, take the inhaler out of your mouth.
Hold your breath for 10 seconds and let the medicine settle in your lungs. Follow these steps
when you take a second dose
SOFT MIST INHALER :-
Remove the inhaler cap, if there is one.
Add a dose of medicine as instructed by your doctor.
Hold the inhaler away from your mouth while you breathe out. It is important to remember
to not breathe out into the inhaler as this can blow some of the powder medicine out of the
inhaler.
Place the inhaler’s mouthpiece in your mouth. Inhale quickly and through your mouth for 2
or 3 seconds. After you have inhaled the powder, take the inhaler out of your mouth.
Hold your breath for 10 seconds and let the medicine settle in your lungs. Follow these
steps when you take a second dose
Sit or stand up straight. Whichever you choose, make sure you do it this way each time.
Make sure the red marker is at the bottom of the meter.
Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely.
Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips tightly on the peak flow meter’s
mouthpiece.
Blast the air out as hard and as fast as possible in a single blow.
Write down the number by the red marker on the meter.
Put the red marker back at the bottom of the peak flow meter and repeat these steps three
times.
The highest of these three readings is your daily peak flow.
Write down the highest of the three readings on a sheet of paper, calendar or in your asthma
diary.
Record any symptoms you are having, like wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or
coughing and if you’ve taken your rescue/emergency medication.
Spirometry is a standard test doctors use to measure how well your lungs are functioning. The
test works by measuring airflow into and out of your lungs. To take a spirometry test, you sit and
breathe into a small machine called a spirometer. This medical device records the amount of air
you breathe in and out as well as the speed of your breath. Doctors use spirometry tests
to diagnose these conditions:
COPD
asthma
If you smoke, avoid smoking for at least 1 hour before the test.
If you drink alcohol, avoid consuming it for at least 4 hours before the test.
Avoid heavy physical effort or exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test.
Check with a healthcare professional about whether you should avoid are any medications, such
as inhalers, before the test, since they may interfere with the accuracy of the results.
A spirometry test usually takes about 15 minutes and generally happens in your doctor’s office. In some
cases when more in-depth tests are necessary, it may take place at a respiratory laboratory.
1. You’ll sit in a chair in an exam room at your doctor’s office. The doctor or a nurse will place a clip
on your nose to keep both nostrils closed. They’ll also place a cup-like breathing mask around
your mouth.
2. Your doctor or nurse will next instruct you to take a deep breath in, hold your breath for a few
seconds, and then exhale as hard as you can into the breathing mask .
3. You’ll repeat this test at least three times to make sure that your results are consistent,
especially if there is a lot of variation between your test results. They’ll take the highest value
from three close test readings and use it as your final result. Your entire appointment should last
about 30 to 90 minutes.
If you have evidence of a breathing disorder, your doctor might then give you an inhaled medication
known as a bronchodilator to open up your lungs after the first round of tests. They’ll then ask you to
wait 15 minutes before doing another set of measurements. Afterward, your doctor will compare the
results of the two measurements to see whether the bronchodilator helped increase your airflow.