Examples

Inhaled

Inhaled or oral

Inhaled, oral, or injected

How It Works

Bronchodilators relax the muscles in the airways of the lungs. This enlarges (dilates) the airways and makes it easier for you to breathe. Bronchodilators may also help you cough up mucus. When they are used to treat cystic fibrosis, bronchodilators are usually given through a nebulizer or with an inhaler. They are rarely taken as a pill or given as an injection.

Why It Is Used

Bronchodilators are used to treat many lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis.

To minimize certain side effects, bronchodilators are often used along with inhaled antibiotics.

How Well It Works

Some people who have cystic fibrosis breathe much more easily while using bronchodilators. Other people do not notice any benefits.

Bronchodilators work better on people who have inflamed, narrow airways.

Side Effects

These medicines are more likely to cause side effects when they are taken as a pill or through an injection than when they are inhaled. Side effects can include:

• Anxiety.
• Muscle tremors.
• Increased heart rate.

In addition, each type of bronchodilator may have its own additional side effects.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that salmeterol may make breathing more difficult. If your wheezing gets worse after taking this medicine, call your health professional right away.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Inhalation is the best way to use bronchodilator medicines. Oral and injected methods have more side effects and are usually given only to people who cannot tolerate inhaling the medicine.

When taking certain bronchodilators, consider the following:

• Bronchodilators may cause fewer side effects if they are used before a dose of inhaled antibiotics.
• It is very important to take each medicine at the right time and in the right order.
• Salmeterol should not be used in place of the other bronchodilators listed above. It is important to follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for using bronchodilators.
• Salmeterol should not be used instead of an inhaled anti-inflammatory medicine (such as a corticosteroid, cromolyn [Intal], or nedocromil [Tilade]).
• Over-the-counter bronchodilators (such as Primatene) should not be used without first talking to your doctor. If you are using one of these products, talk with your doctor about your symptoms.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.