The three most widely used bronchodilators are:
1. Beta-2 Agonists – are used for both asthma and COPD, although some types are only available for COPD. Examples are salbutamol, salmeterol, formoterol and vilanterol.
They should be used with caution in people with:
- an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) – a condition that occurs when there’s too much thyroid hormone in the body
- cardiovascular disease – any disease of the heart or blood vessels
- an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- diabetes – a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high
2. Anticholinergics – Are also known as antimuscarinics and mainly used for COPD but a few are also licenced for asthma. They’re usually taken using an inhaler but may be nebulised to treat sudden and severe symptoms. Examples are ipratropium, tiotropium, aclidinium and glycopyrroniu.
They should be used with caution in people with:
- benign prostatic hyperplasia – a non-cancerous swelling of the prostate
- a bladder outflow obstruction – any condition that affects the flow of urine out of the bladder, such as bladder stones or prostate cancer
- glaucoma – a build-up of pressure in the eye
3. Theophylline— It is usually taken in tablet or capsule form, but a different version called aminophylline can be given directly into a vein (intravenously) if your symptoms are severe.
They should be used with caution in people with:
- an overactive thyroid
- cardiovascular disease
- liver problems – such as liver disease
- high blood pressure
- stomach ulcers – open sores that develop on the stomach lining
- epilepsy – a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures (fits)
