Treatment

  Anticholinergics

Anticholinergics are prescribed mainly for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. They are used for asthma only rarely, when a patient cannot tolerate other bronchodilators or to treat acute asthma attacks in the emergency room.

In Canada, anticholinergic bronchodilators are available under the brand name Atrovent^®.

Action
Like short-acting beta-2 agonists, anticholinergics open the airways, but they take longer to act and are not as potent. Their maximum effect is felt within 30 minutes.

Dosage
An anticholinergic can sometimes be taken after another bronchodilator. People with chronic bronchitis or emphysema usually take it 4 times a day. Asthmatics who cannot tolerate short-acting beta2-agonists can use anticholinergics as a rescue medication, when necessary.

Side Effects
Anticholinergics generally have few side effects. They sometimes produce dryness and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. People with glaucoma should avoid spraying the drug in their eyes, since it can increase ocular tension.