Inhalers deliver medicines that can improve your ability to breathe when you have bronchitis.
They are usually prescribed only for chronic bronchitis and severe cases of acute bronchitis.
Inhalers contain medicines that treat bronchitis symptoms in different ways and have various side effects.
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This article discusses which inhalers can help with bronchitis, when they’re used, and how they work.
Inhalers deliver medicine right into your lungs, where they can help reduce swelling and open up your bronchi.
These inhaled medications act in different ways and have different side effects.
Which medications youre prescribed will depend on how severe your chronic bronchitis is.
However, they do seem to help patients with wheezing or whose swollen bronchi are obstructing their breathing.
They can help these patients breathe easier.
Side effects of these medications include tremors, shakiness, and nervousness.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Inhaled corticosteroidsare sometimes prescribed for chronic bronchitis and COPD.
They are not used as monotherapy for COPD.
Side effects of inhaled steroids include thrush in the mouth, hoarseness, and increased risk of developing pneumonia.
They act on the muscles in the lungs to relax them, opening the airways.
Side effects of long-acting beta-2 agonists are similar to those of short-acting beta-2 agonists.
A nebulizer can provide medication through a mask and doesnt require the coordinated breathing of an inhaler.
A nebulizer could deliver any of the above inhaler medications if it’s more effective.
The medications would have the same side effects as taken through an inhaler.
Other Treatments for Bronchitis
Other therapies may be used to treat different symptoms associated with bronchitis.
Nebulizers, which deliver medications in the form of a mist, are also used.
That said, most cases of acute bronchitis usually clear up without the need for inhalers.
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