Respiratory pharmacology explained

There are several categories of respiratory drugs, each specific to a drug's purpose and mode of action. The following is a list of key pharmaceuticals in the prevention and treatment of respiratory-related ailments.

Ultra Short-Acting

• Epinephrine
• Racemic epinephrine
• Isoetharine

Short-Acting

• Metaproterenol
• Albuterol
• Pirbuterol
• Levalbuterol^[1]

Long-Acting

• Salmeterol
• Formoterol
• Arformoterol

• Ipratropium bromide
• Tiotropium bromide

Xanthines

• Theophylline
• Oxtriphylline
• Aminophylline
• Dyphylline

Mucus-controlling agents

• Acetylcysteine (10%,20%)
• Dornase alfa
• Hypertonic saline (3-10%)

• Beractant
• Calfactant
• Poractant alfa

Corticosteroids

• Beclomethasone (dipropionate)
• Triamcinolone acetonide
• Flunisolide (hemihydrate)
• Fluticasone (propionate)
• Budesonide
• Mometasone furoate^[2]

Nonsteroidal Antiasthma agents

Cromolyn-like agents

• Cromolyn sodium
• Nedocromil sodium

• Zafirlukast
• Montelukast
• Zileuton

• Omalizumab

Aerosolized Antiinfective agents

• Pentamidine isethionate
• Ribavirin
• Tobramycin
• Zanamivir

• Nicotine transdermal (patch)
• Nicotine polacrilex
• Bupropion
• Varenicline

Other Important Respiratory Medications

• α₁-Proteinase Inhibitors
• Nitric Oxide (gas)
• Heliox (gas)
• Epoprostenol

Notes and References

1. Book: Egan's fundamentals of respiratory care . 2009 . Mosby/Elsevier . Donald F. . Egan . Robert L. . Wilkins . James K.. Stoller. Robert M.. Kacmarek . 978-0-323-03657-3 . 9 . St. Louis, Mo. . 191864476.
2. Book: Rau . Gardenhire . Joseph L. . Douglas S. . Rau's respiratory care pharmacology. . 2008 . Mosby Elsevier . Joseph L. Rau . 978-0-323-03202-5 . 7 . St. Louis, Mo. . 154692090.