There are many drugs acting on respiratory system, that is, antitussives, antiasthmatics, expectorants, and mucolytics.
INTRODUCTION OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
There are
many drugs acting on respiratory system, that is, antitussives, antiasthmatics,
expectorants, and mucolytics. There are some drugs that act centrally for
suppression of cough through the inhibition of mechano or chemoreceptors.
Normally, cough is beneficial for expelling all the dust particles that enter into
the respiratory tract. However, when the cough becomes severe due to any
inflammation in the respiratory tract or in the lungs, it is necessary to treat
with some drugs, such as mucolytics, antiasthmatics, or any expectorants.
The drugs
that are used for bronchial asthma are ß2 adrenergic agonists
because it is caused due to the irregulation of autonomic control towards these
receptors in the lungs and respiratory tract, which produces constriction.
Therefore, the difficulty in breathing persists and can be treated, especially,
with ß2 adrenergic
agonists. For example, salmeterol, terbutaline, formeterol, and some methyl
xanthines (caffeine, theophylline) as well
as anticholinergics (ipratropium bromide, tiotropium bromide). The inflammation persisting
may be treated better with corticosteroids. Bronchial asthma may also be due to
the hypersensitive reactions, due to the release of histamine and acetylcholine
in the tracheo-bronchial regions. These can be treated by using some mast cell
stabilizers called sodium chromglycate and leukotriene antagonists, that is,
montelukast and zafirlukast.
Antitussives
are the drugs that act in the central nervous system (CNS) to raise the
threshold of cough centre or act
peripherally in the respiratory tract to reduce tussual impulse, example,
opioids and non-opioids.
Mucolytics
are the drugs that depolymerize the mucopolysaccharides and they break the
network of tenacious sputum. These events mark the expulsion of sputum with the
help of ciliary movement. Examples: bromohexine, adothoda vasaka.
Expectorants
are the drugs that increase the bronchial secretion and reduce the viscosity of
sputum for removal by coughing. Sodium and potassium citrate and ammonium
chloride are used as expectorants.
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