The use of anticholinergics in asthma.
Anticholinergic medications have been accepted as an important treatment modality in chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma, but their use in acute asthma is more controversial. A brief historical context of anticholinergics is given. The innervations of the lung that govern bronchoconstriction and bronchodilatation are reviewed. The pharmacological and neurological properties of anticholinergics make them excellent modalities for treatment of asthma. The benefits of anticholinergics in acute asthma, exercise-induced asthma, nocturnal asthma, and psychogenic asthma are reviewed. The use of anticholinergics in anaphylaxis with beta-blockade is examined.
Beakes
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Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland 20762, USA.
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006024:Glycopyrrolate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000188:drug therapy
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; C017590:oxitropium; D006024:Glycopyrrolate