Types of Medication for Nebulizers

A nebulizer is a device that converts liquid medicine to mist to inhale it easily. Nebulizers are mainly used to treat respiratory disorders such as

• Cystic fibrosis
• Asthma
• Obstructive lung disorders
• Infectious pulmonary disease

Nebulizers are beneficial due to the following reasons:

• Allow administration of large doses of medicine
• Do not require patient coordination

A nebulizer may utilize one of these two medicines:

1. Corticosteroids: These drugs fight inflammation in the airways.
   • Some examples include:
     • Budesonide
     • Flunisolide
     • Fluticasone
     • Triamcinolone
2. Bronchodilators: These drugs open the airways to relieve congestion.
   • Examples include:
     • Albuterol
     • Formoterol
     • Levalbuterol
     • Salmeterol

Some of the common medicines used in nebulizers include:

• Albuterol
• Budesonide
• Cromolyn sodium 
• Ipratropium
• Levalbuterol

Common side effects of using nebulizer medications may include

• Muscles tighten around the airways
• Breathing gets worse after a treatment
• Chest feels tight after the treatment
• Fever and sore mouth or throat

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Bronchodilators usually appear safe during pregnancy. Fetuses of mothers who used bronchodilators exhibited no health risks compared with those whose mothers did not take any medications. Corticosteroids are generally safe when given as nebulizers and don’t cause any health risks to the fetus.

Always consult your physician before taking these medications.

Generally, there are no interactions between bronchodilators and alcohol. Even corticosteroids do not directly interact with alcohol. However, alcohol can worsen underlying conditions such as asthma, so it is better to restrict or avoid alcohol completely while using nebulizers. Consult your physician to know the safety of alcoholic drinks.