Bronchodilator: Anticholinergic

What are these medicines used for?

Anticholinergics are medicines used to treat breathing problems caused by asthma. It's also called a controller medicine, because by taking it regularly every day, it helps to control your child’s symptoms. Anticholinergic medicine used alone will not treat sudden, severe breathing problems. They do not provide quick relief of wheezing in acute attacks. For acute attacks, your child will need a different type of medicine called a reliever.

Anticholinergics are sometimes combined with other types of breathing medicine to treat sudden symptoms. They are also used when your child can't take other types of medicine to help his breathing.

If your child has asthma, he may have symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Your child’s symptoms are caused by two different problems in the airways.

• One problem is that the muscles in the airways tighten up, which causes the feeling of chest tightness and wheezing.
• The other problem is swelling, irritation and too much mucus in the airways.

If your child has asthma, symptoms often start after your child is exposed to a trigger. Asthma triggers can include pollen, animals, mold, colds, exercise, cold air, and air pollutants. It is important to know what triggers your child’s asthma so that your child can avoid those things or take a reliever medicine before being around a trigger.

Asthma symptoms come and go throughout the day or week and get better with medicine.

How do they work?

Anticholinergic medicines help breathing problems because they block one of the chemicals in the body that make your child’s muscles tight. By lessening the muscle tightness, your child will have fewer symptoms and be able to breathe better. Anticholinergic medicines:

• Relax the muscles of the airways.
• Lower the amount of mucus made in the airways.
• Keep muscles around the airways from getting too tight

The medicine can be taken in different ways. For example:

• A hand-held device, such as a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or a dry powder inhaler is small and easy for your child to carry. Inhalers help send the medicine directly to your child’s lungs as he takes a deep breath. Some MDI medicines may need a spacer. A spacer is a small tube or bag that holds the medicine while your child breathes it in to his lungs.
• A nebulizer is a machine that your child uses at home. Medicine is mixed with liquid and the machine forms a mist. Your child will breathe in the mist to help get the medicine in to his lungs.

What else do I need to know about this medicine?

• Follow the directions that come with your child’s medicine, including information about food or alcohol. Make sure you know how and when your child needs to take the medicine. Your child should not take more or less than he or she is supposed to take.
• Try to get all of your child’s prescriptions filled at the same place. Your pharmacist can help make sure that all of your child’s medicines are safe to take together.
• Keep a list of your child’s medicines with you. List all of the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that your child takes. Tell all healthcare providers who treat your child about all of the products your child takes.
• Many medicines have side effects. A side effect is a symptom or problem that is caused by the medicine. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what side effects the medicine may cause, and what you should do if your child has side effects.

If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Be sure to keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.