Bronchodilators: Nursing pharmacology

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BRONCHODILATORS
DRUG NAME
albuterol (Ventolin)
- short acting,
salmeterol (Serevent)

- long acting
ipratropium bromide (Atrovent), tiotropium bromide (Spiriva)
theophylline (Theo-Dur)
CLASS
β-2 agonists
Anticholinergics
Methylxanthine
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Bind to β2-adrenergic receptors on bronchial smooth muscle cells to cause smooth muscle relaxation
Bind to M3 muscarinic receptors on tracheal and bronchial smooth muscles and block acetylcholine from binding, ultimately decreasing smooth muscle contraction
Enters smooth muscles of the airways and inhibits the enzyme phosphodiesterase, leading to smooth muscle relaxation
INDICATIONS
Acute asthma attacks (short acting); prophylactic or maintenance therapy for asthma and COPD (long acting)
COPD (treatment of choice); asthma (less effective)
Asthma and COPD
ROUTE(S) OF ADMINISTRATION
  • INH (inhalers or nebulizers)
  • PO
  • IV
SIDE EFFECTS
  • Muscle tremors
  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Tachycardia
  • Palpitations
  • Arrhythmias
  • Pupil dilation
  • Dry mouth
  • Tachycardia
  • Restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Seizures
  • Arrhythmias
  • Gastric pain
  • Hyperreflexia
CONTRAINDICATIONS AND CAUTIONS
  • Heart or renal disease
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Pregnancy
  • Narrow angle glaucoma
  • Heart disease
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypersensitivity / allergic reaction
  • Seizure disorder
  • Heart, renal, or liver disease
  • Drug interactions with beta blockers, phenytoin, beta adrenergic agonists, antidepressants, and certain antibiotics can lead to synergistic effects and cardiac dysrhythmias
NURSING CONSIDERATIONS: BRONCHODILATORS
albuterol (Ventolin)
- short acting,
salmeterol (Serevent)

- long acting
ipratropium bromide (Atrovent), tiotropium bromide (Spiriva)
theophylline (Theo-Dur)
Assessment and monitoring: all bronchodilators

  • Assess respiratory status, vital signs, and lung sounds before and after administration
  • Monitor for side effects
  • Evaluate therapeutic response
Client education
  • Proper technique; use a spacer with MDI
  • If prescribed more than one puff, wait one minute between puffs
  • With concurrent use of other inhaled medications, administer β-2 agonists first, then wait five minutes and administer other inhaled medications
Client education
  • Proper technique; use a spacer with MDI
  • If prescribed more than one puff, wait one minute between puffs

Assessment and monitoring
  • Signs of theophylline toxicity; serum theophylline level; therapeutic range: 10–20 mcg/ml
  • Administer IV theophylline slowly with an IV pump
  • Never crush the enteric coated or sustained release tablets

Client education
  • Avoid smoking, caffeine, and alcohol use
Author: Maria Emfietzoglou, MD
Author: Ashley Mauldin, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Illustrator: Robyn Hughes, MScBMC

Transcript

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Bronchodilators are a group of medications that help breathing by keeping the airways dilated. That being said, they are typically used in obstructive lung diseases, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short, where clients suffer from narrowing and obstruction of the airways.

Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation in the lungs, as well as asthma exacerbations or attacks, where certain triggers, such as viruses, allergens, stress, aspirin or other NSAIDs and exercise, lead to reversible bronchial smooth muscle spasms and mucus production, both of which make it hard to breathe. As a result, clients experience symptoms like dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing.

On the other hand, in COPD, there’s chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs, most commonly due to smoking. As a result, the airways become irreversibly obstructed and the lungs are not able to empty properly, which leaves air trapped inside the lungs. As a result, clients experience symptoms like dyspnea and a productive cough.

Now, COPD generally refers to a group of progressive lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These two differ in that chronic bronchitis is defined by long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes, whereas emphysema is defined by destruction and enlargement of the alveoli.

Although the airway obstruction in COPD is irreversible, bronchodilators can often help prevent the complete closure of the airway during expiration, which provides mild symptomatic relief.

Now, based on their mechanism of action, bronchodilators can be broadly divided into three main groups; β2-agonists; anticholinergics; and methylxanthines.

The effect of all these medications is bronchial smooth muscle relaxation, which in turn results in dilation of the narrowed airways and improved air flow.

In particular, β2-agonists, like albuterol and salmeterol, come in an aerosolized form, and can be taken via metered dose inhalers or MDIs, or nebulizers.

Once in the lungs, they bind to and activate the β2 adrenergic receptors on bronchial smooth muscle cells, ultimately promoting relaxation of the smooth muscle. β-2 agonists can be classified, based on the duration of action, into short acting β-2 agonists, or SABAs, such as albuterol, and long acting β-2 agonists, or LABAs, like salmeterol.

SABAs are typically the treatment of choice for quick symptom relief in acute asthmatic attacks, whereas LABAs are often used in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid like budesonide as prophylactic or maintenance treatment for asthma and COPD.

On the other hand, commonly used anticholinergics include ipratropium and tiotropium, and can also be given via inhalers or nebulizers. Once in the airways, they bind to M3 muscarinic receptors on the tracheal and bronchial smooth muscles.

This blocks acetylcholine from binding to the receptors, decreasing smooth muscle constriction. In comparison to β2-agonists, anticholinergics are less effective for asthma, but more effective for COPD, where they are the bronchodilators of choice.

However, for severe cases of asthma or COPD, anticholinergics are often given in combination with LABAs for an additive effect, leading to stronger and longer lasting bronchodilation.

Finally, methylxanthines, such as theophylline, are usually taken orally, but can also be administered intravenously. Once methylxanthines reach the airways, they inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase, or PDE, and ultimately lead to smooth muscle relaxation. These medications can be used in asthma and COPD.

Okay, now each group of bronchodilators has its own set of side effects. With β-2 agonists, the most common ones are muscle tremors, restlessness, and insomnia, as well as tachycardia, and palpitations.

Some clients may even develop arrhythmias, especially with LABAs, which could result in heart failure or even death. As a result, β-2 agonists should be used with caution in clients with concurrent heart or renal disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and pregnancy.

Moving on to anticholinergics, common side effects include pupil dilation, dry mouth, tachycardia, and restlessness. For that reason, anticholinergics should be used with caution in clients with narrow angle glaucoma, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism, and are contraindicated in clients with a previous hypersensitivity or allergic reaction.

Sources

  1. "Focus on Nursing Pharmacology" LWW (2019)
  2. "Pharmacology" Elsevier Health Sciences (2014)
  3. "Mosby's 2021 Nursing Drug Reference" Mosby (2020)
  4. "Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination" Saunders (2016)