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Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!howland.erols.net!netnews.com!newspeer1.nac.net!news1.radix.net!not-for-mail From: mwg@saltmine.radix.net Newsgroups: alt.support.asthma,alt.med.allergy,sci.med,alt.answers,sci.answers,news.answers Subject: alt.support.asthma FAQ: Asthma Medications Followup-To: alt.support.asthma,alt.med.allergy,sci.med Date: 31 Oct 2000 22:48:02 GMT Organization: RadixNet Incorporated Lines: 516 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Distribution: world Expires: 17 November 2000 Message-ID: <8tni72$ar8$2@news1.Radix.Net> NNTP-Posting-Host: saltmine.radix.net Summary: This posting is a list of medications used for the prevention and treatment of asthma. It is a companion posting to the alt.support.asthma FAQ: Asthma -- General Information. Keywords: asthma faq medications drugs Cc: mwg@radix.net User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-980514 (UNIX) (SunOS/5.5.1 (sun4m)) Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.support.asthma:54889 alt.med.allergy:23609 sci.med:288506 alt.answers:52083 sci.answers:12307 news.answers:194851 Archive-name: medicine/asthma/medications Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-modified: 17 Sep 2000 Orginal-author: Patricia Wrean <prwrean@sfu.ca> Version: 5.2 alt.support.asthma FAQ: Asthma Medications =========================================== This FAQ attempts to list the most commonly prescribed medications for the prevention and treatment of asthma, both in the U.S. and overseas. It was compiled by Patricia Wrean <prwrean@sfu.ca> and is currently maintained by Marie Goldenberg <mwg@radix.net>. The following information came from three sources: most of the drugs available in the U.S. are listed in the 1994 Physicians' Desk Reference (full citation at end of post); many of the drugs available in Canada are listed in the 1995 Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialities (full citation at end of post); the remainder of the information, including those medications available overseas, came from the many helpful contributors listed at the end of the post. If you do not wish your name to be included in the contributors list, please state that explicitly when contributing. Also, if I have left anyone's name out, please let me know so that I may include it. ** Although the maintainer and contributors do their best to keep this FAQ updated, it is by no means an authoritative work. Asthma is a serious illness requiring supervision by a physician. Please do not attempt to change your medication regime without consulting your doctor. Corrections, additions, and comments are requested; please include the name of the country in which the medication is available, as it isn't always obvious from the user-id. If the drug is available as an inhaler, please specify it as a MDI or one of the other types mentioned in the glossary, or add a description of the inhaler if it is not present already. Abbreviations are explained in the glossary at the end of the table. If the medication is followed by a country name in brackets, then to the best of my knowledge it is only available in that country, and not in the U.S. I have only covered inhaled steroids, and not those taken orally, at the present time. If the drug is available in a nasal form for allergies, I've included it for completeness. For information about allergy medications, please see the Allergy Medications FAQ, which is posted monthly to the newsgroups alt.support.asthma, alt.med.allergy, and sci.med. + = added since last version & = updated/corrected since last version ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Type of drug Chemical name Brand name Comments ---------------------- ---------- -------- Anti-allergic cromolyn sodium Intal available as MDI, (sodium cromoglycate neb soln (US, is WHO recommended elsewhere), capsules name generally in for Spinhaler use outside the (Can, NL, UK), U.S.) Syncroner (Can, UK) Lomudal capsules for Spinhaler (NL) Nasalcrom nasal spray (now OTC in US) Novo-Cromolyn neb soln (Can) Rynacrom nasal spray, cartridges for nasal insufflator (Can) ketotifen fumarate Zaditen tablets, syrup (Can) sodium cromoglycate -- see cromolyn sodium Anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal nedocromil Tilade MDI (US, elsewhere), synchroner (UK) neb soln (US, upcoming in 1998) sodium Tilade Mint MDI (UK) Anti-inflammatory, steroidal (inhaled) beclomethasone Aerobec autohaler (UK) dipropionate Beclovent MDI (US, elsewhere), Rotacaps for Rotahaler (Can) Beclodisk diskhaler (Can) Becloforte MDI (Can, Sw, UK), diskhaler (UK), integra (UK), 5 times larger dose than Beclovent Becodisk diskhaler (UK) Becotide MDI, Rotacaps for Rotahaler (UK) Beconase nasal MDI Beconase AQ nasal spray Respocort MDI, autohaler (NZ) Vanceril MDI Vancenase Pockethaler (nasal MDI) Vancenase AQ nasal spray budesonide Pulmicort turbuhaler & (US, Aus, Can, Sw, UK, NZ), & neb soln (US, UK, Can, NZ) Rhinocort nasal MDI (US, elsewhere), nasal turbuhaler, (Can, Sw), nasal spray (Can) Spirocort turbuhaler (Dk), neb soln (Dk) Nebuamp neb soln (Can) dexamethasone Decadron Respihaler sodium phosphate Phosphate flunisolide Aerobid MDI Aerobid-M MDI, with menthol as flavouring agent Bronalide MDI (Can) Nasalide nasal spray Nasarel nasal spray Rhinalar nasal spray (Can) fluticasone Flixotide MDI, diskhaler (UK, SA), accuhaler (UK) propionate Flonase nasal spray Flovent MDI, rotahaler (US, 4/98) triamcinolone Azmacort MDI acetonide Nasacort nasal MDI Anticholinergics (bronchodilators) ipratropium Atrovent MDI, inh soln bromide (US, elsewhere), nasal MDI (US, Can) Beta-agonists (bronchodilators) albuterol* Aerolin autohaler (UK) (salbutamol is Airet inh soln WHO recommended Asmavent inh soln (Can) name generally Proventil MDI, inh soln, syrup, in use outside tablets, the U.S.) Repetabs (SA tablets), Proventil HFA non-CFC MDI (US) Respolin MDI, autohaler (NZ) Ventolin MDI, inh soln, tablets, neb soln, Rotacaps, for Rotahaler, syrup (US, elsewhere), injection (Can), accuhaler (UK) Ventodisk diskhaler (Can, UK) Volmax ER tablets Airomir non-CFC MDI (NZ) * MDI uses albuterol, all other forms (tablets, etc.) use albuterol sulfate + bambuterol hydrochloride Bambec tablet bitolterol mesylate Tornalate MDI ephedrine Ephedrine inh soln (Can) epinephrine Bronkaid Mist MDI, OTC, epinephrine in form of nitrate and hydrochloride & May have been discontinued in Canada Bronkaid Mist MDI, OTC** Suspension Medihaler-Epi MDI, OTC** (discontinued 1997) Primatene Mist MDI, OTC Primatene Mist MDI, OTC** Suspension Sus-Phrine injection ** as epinephrine bitartrate fenoterol Berotec MDI, inh soln, tablets hydrobromide (Can, Aus, NZ) Berotec Forte MDI (Can), 2 times larger dose than Berotec formoterol fumarate Foradil MDI (Sw, UK, Can) + Oxeze turbuhaler isoetharine Bronkosol inh soln hydrochloride Bronkometer MDI Isoetharine inh soln Arm-a-Med isoproterenol Medihaler-Iso MDI, as sulfate Isuprel MDI, neb soln (Can), as hydrochloride & Discontinued in Canada? + levalbuterol Xopenex neb soln metaproterenol Alupent MDI, inh soln, tablets, sulfate neb soln, syrup (orciprenaline Metaprel MDI, inh soln, syrup, sulfate is WHO tablets recommended name Metaproterenol inh soln generally in use Sulfate outside the U.S.) Arm-a-Med orciprenaline sulfate -- see metaproterenol sulfate pirbuterol acetate Maxair MDI, autohaler procaterol HCl Pro-Air MDI (Can) salbutamol -- see albuterol salmeterol Serevent MDI (US, elsewhere), xinafoate diskhaler (US - Diskus, UK, SA), accuhaler (UK) terbutaline Brethaire MDI sulfate Brethine tablets, neb soln, injection Bricanyl tablets, injection (US, elsewhere), turbuhaler (Aus, Can, Sw, UK) Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists zafirlukast Accolate tablets (US, available Nov/96) zileuton Zyflo tablets (US) montelukast Singulair tablets (US, Feb/98) Xanthines (bronchodilators) theophylline Aerolate TD capsules, liquid Quibron-T tablets, SA tablets (see also combinations) Respbid SR tablets Slo-bid ER capsules Slo-phylline ER capsules T-Phyl CR tablets Theo-24 ER capsules Theo-Dur ER tablets Theo-Dur SA capsules Sprinkle Theo-X tablets Theolair tablets, SR tablets, liquid Uniphyl CR tablets dyphylline*** Lufyllin tablets, injection, syrup *** similar to theophylline oxtriphylline**** Choledyl DR tablets, SA tablets **** oxtriphylline is the choline salt of theophylline, and 400 mg of it is equivalent to 254 mg of anhydrous theophylline ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Combination Medications: Brand name Chemical names of ingredients Comments ---------- ----------------------------- -------- +Advair salmeterol, fluticasone Diskus Aerocrom cromolyn sodium, albuterol MDI, synchroner (UK) Asbron G theophylline sodium glycinate, elixir, tablets guaifenesin (expectorant) Berodual ipratropium HBr, fenoterol HBr MDI (UK) Bronkaid Caplets ephedrine sulfate, guaifenesin tablets, OTC +Combivent salbutamol (albuterol), MDI (Can) ipratropium bromide Congess guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine tablets Duo-Medihaler isoproterenol hydrochloride, MDI phenylephrine bitartrate Duovent fenoterol hydrobromide, MDI (UK) ipratropium bromide Marax ephedrine sulfate, tablets theophylline, Atarax (hydroxyzine HCl) Primatene Tablets theophylline, ephedrine HCl tablets, OTC Quadrinal theophylline calcium salicylate, tablets ephedrine HCl, phenobarbital, potassium iodide Rynatuss carbetapentane tannate, tablets, syrup chlorpheniramine tannate, ephedrine tannate, phenylephrine tannate Tedral theophylline, ephedrine HCl, tablets (Can), phenobarbital no longer manufactured in US Ventolin-Plus albuterol, beclomethasone MDI (Sw) dipropionate ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Glossary -------- aerosol inhalers: MDI - metered-dose inhaler, consisting of an aerosol unit and plastic mouthpiece. This is currently the most common type of inhaler, and is widely available. autohaler - MDI made by 3M which is activated by one's breath, and doesn't need the breath-hand coordination that a regular MDI does. Available in U.S., UK, and NZ. integra - MDI with compact spacer device. Available in UK. respihaler - aerosol inhaler for Decadron (see table above). I have no idea how this differs from the usual MDI. Available in the U.S. syncroner - MDI with elongated mouthpiece, used as training device to see if medication is being inhaled properly. Available in Canada and UK. dry powder inhalers: accuhaler - dry powder inhaler for use with Serevent. It contains a foil strip with 60 blisters, each containing one dose of the drug. Pressing the lever punctures the blister, allowing the drug to be inhaled through the mouthpiece. Available in the UK. diskhaler - dry powder inhaler. The drug is kept in a series of little pouches on a disk; the diskhaler punctures the pouch and drug is inhaled through the mouthpiece. Currently available in Canada, South Africa, and UK; Serevent Diskus newly available in U.S. insufflator - dry powder nasal inhaler used with Rynacrom cartridges. Each cartridge contains one dose; the inhaler opens the cartridge, allowing the powder to be blown into the nose by squeezing the bulb. Available in Canada. rotahaler - dry powder inhaler used with Rotacaps capsules. Each capsule contains one dose; the inhaler opens the capsule such that the powder may be inhaled through the mouthpiece. Available in the U.S., Canada, and UK for Ventolin. In Canada, Beclovent Rotacaps are also available, as are Becotide Rotacaps in the UK. spinhaler - dry powder inhaler used with Intal capsules for spinhaler. Each capsule contains one dose; the inhaler opens the capsule such that the powder may be inhaled through the mouthpiece. Available in Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands. No longer manufactured in the U.S. turbuhaler - dry powder inhaler. The drug is in form of a pellet; when body of inhaler is rotated, prescribed amount of drug is ground off this pellet. The powder is then inhaled through a fluted aperture on top. Available in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, and the UK (spelled 'turbohaler' in the UK). forms of tablets: CR - controlled release. This means that the drug has a constant rate of release. DR - delayed release. This generally refers to enteric- coated tablets which are designed to release the drug in the intestine where the pH is in the alkaline range. ER - extended release. Dosage forms which are designed to release the drug over an extended period of time, such as implants which release drug over a period of one or two months or years. SA - sustained action. Used interchangeably with CR (above), except that SA usually refers to the pharmacologic action while CR refers to the drug release process. TD - time delayed. This is slightly different from DR in that the drug release is designed to occur after a certain period of time, such as pellets coated to a certain thickness, multi-layered tablets, tablets within a capsule, or double-compressed tablets. forms of solutions: neb soln - nebulizer solution. Drug comes in nebules for use with nebulizer. inh soln - inhalation solution. Some manufacturers use this as a synonym for neb soln; others use it to mean that drug comes in bottle with dropper, distinct from neb soln. country abbreviations: Aus - Australia Can - Canada Dk - Denmark NL - Netherlands NZ - New Zealand SA - South Africa Sw - Switzerland UK - United Kingdom US - United States misc: OTC - over-the-counter, all other medications are prescription-only in the U.S. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Physicians' Desk Reference is published annually by: Medical Economics Data Production Company Montvale, NJ 07645-1742 ISBN 1-56363-061-3 It is a compendium of official, FDA-approved prescription drug labeling. The FDA is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties is published annually by: Canadian Pharmaceutical Association Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 3Y6 ISBN 0-919115-94-2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributors: ------------ Andrew Benham A.D.S.Benham@bnr.co.uk Lawrence M. (Larry) Bezeau BEZEAU@UNB.CA Daniel Canonica d_canonica@trzcl1.mrgate.mailer.umc.alcatel.ch John Connett jrc@concurrent.co.uk Mark Delany markd@bushwire.apana.org.au Walter de Wit dewit@hamilton.niwa.cri.nz Steve Dyer dyer@spdcc.com Ian Ford ianford@dircon.co.uk Susan Graham sgraham@hpb.hwc.ca Natasha Hadfield hadfildn@teaching.physics.ox.ac.uk Rick Hughes richardh@Newbridge.COM Paul Hulbert hulbert@hasler.ascom.ch Simon Kelley srk@sanger.ac.uk Jon Krom Jon.Krom@jet.uk Jesper Duwe Nielsen jdn@aar-vki.dk Rick Nopper nopperrw@esvax.dnet.dupont.com Kevin A. Nunan pp000165@interramp.com Janet Pierson JPierson@highlands.com Matt Ray M.J.Ray@bradford.ac.uk Derrick Rea johnrea@batelco.com.bh John Saunders John@gemini.demon.co.uk Stephan Seillier seillier@on.bell.ca John R. Strohm strohm@mksol.dseg.ti.com Elaine Turner, M.D. elturn@richmond.infi.net John Underhay junderhay@upei.ca David Williams exudnw@exu.ericsson.se Travis Lee Winfrey travis.winfrey@fi.gs.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: I am not a physician; I am only a reasonably well-informed asthmatic. This information is for educational purposes only, and should be used only as a supplement to, not a substitute for, professional medical advice. Copyright 1996 by Patricia Wrean, 1997 by Marie Goldenberg. Permission is given to freely copy or distribute this FAQ provided that it is distributed in full without modification, and that such distribution is not intended for profit. 
