Medications Used for the Respiratory System

Abstract

Commonly acquired respiratory conditions may be acute or chronic and range from acute rhinitis to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this chapter the pathophysiology of the selected conditions are explained and the subsequent pharmacological approach to treatment identified and applied to nursing care and practice. The core concepts of inflammation and receptor-mediated muscle relaxation are explained in order to explain the effect of aspects of pharmacological treatment. Medications such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, nedocromil and leukotriene antagonists are examined in relation to the allergenic-inflammatory response of the respiratory tract. Classic-receptor mediated bronchodilation-constriction theory will also be explored in relation to sympathetic agonists and parasympathetic antagonists. Pharmacological aspects such as pharmacokinetic interactions together with specific nursing responsibilities associated with the medications concerned are addressed.