Administration Routes
You have options for treating your asthma symptoms. You also have options on how you use or administer your asthma treatment. Healthcare providers call this the administration route 1. These are your options for managing your asthma.
Inhaled Medications
Inhalation is the most common administration route for different asthma medications. Inhaled medications are the most commonly prescribed treatments for your asthma. With inhaled medications, a small handheld device delivers your asthma medication directly to your lungs. There are two kinds of inhalers: metered-dose and dry powder inhalers.
Metered-Dose Inhalers
Metered-dose inhalers are the most common kind of inhaler. They are preferred to dry powder inhalers despite being harder to use. Most people don’t have the proper technique and use their inhalers the wrong way. Metered-dose inhalers require coordinated inhaling and breathing, which can be hard for young children.
Dry Powder Inhalers
Dry powder inhalers are easier to use because they require one deep, quick breath. Despite their relative ease of use, your healthcare provider may not prescribe them as often. You must carefully store dry powder inhalers in a cool place. And, you would have a hard time taking a deep quick breath during an asthma attack.
Oral Medications
Your healthcare provider prescribes oral asthma medications when other administration routes don’t work. In small doses, oral medications decrease airway swelling. Compared to inhaled medications, oral medications have more known side effects. Some side effects include muscle weakness, nausea, and weight gain. The taste of oral medications can also be unpleasant for some people, particularly young children.
Intravenous Medications
You can also inject intravenous medications directly into your bloodstream via your veins. Much like oral medications, your healthcare provider prescribes them after trying other administration routes for asthma treatments. The good thing about this administration route is that your results are instant. But, not everyone sees the same benefit. Some of you may have reactions at your injection site, like swelling or bruising. We also know that adverse reactions tend to happen with initial doses.