Management Medication for Asthma

Medication Recommendations 

Ms. Whitney having a history of asthma since grade school requires management medication for her condition. Asthma being a lifetime disorder, I will recommend anti-inflammatory medication where she can use on a daily basis for a lifetime. These drug classifications are considered to be the most effective anti-asthmatic drugs that act by decreasing the edema in the mucosa of the airways. Addressing the causes and triggers is better than managing the attack once it strikes.

The anti-inflammatory drug is administered through inhalation or IV where one is expected to maintain a fixed dosage and not taken when needed. This is because; the benefits of them are slow and cannot be used to abort an ongoing attack. This recommendation is based on the assumption information that Ms. Whitney has been using Albuterol inhaler 3-4 times per week for the past three months and sometime at night. This is an indication that she uses the medication only when needed other than for the management of the condition.

The frequency of her bronchodilator usage is high thus I will recommend the use of prednisone that is available in Rayos, Sterapred, Deltasone brand names. For asthmatic maintenance, she will take from an initial dosage of 7.5mg to a maximum of 60mg once a day (Sinha, 2019) . A minimum dosage should be maintained and observed strictly to avoid complications that might arise due to mixing of the dosage or non-adherence to the maintenance drugs (O'Byrne, Jenkins, & Bateman, 2017) .

Potential Side Effects and Drug Interactions 

Prednisone is a corticosteroid thus functions by preventing absorption of some substances in the body that cause information as well as suppresses the immune system (Bello, et al., 2015) . Prednisone usage has both severe and common side effects. When one experience severe side effects such as blurred vision, swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath, severe depression, seizures, high blood pressure, low potassium one should immediately see the doctor. The common side effects include; sleep problems, increase in appetite, nausea, headache, dizziness, slow healing of wounds and mood changes.

Ms. Whitney uses Acetaminophen for pain management and also takes about starting birth control methods. Prednisone interacts with several drugs inclusive of birth control pills and other hormonal drugs, some of antibiotics, hepatitis c and HIV & AUDS medication among others (Brahmer, et al., 2018) . This requires adequate consultation with the doctor prior to taking any other medication when on prednisone treatment.

Non-Pharmacological Interventions 

Asthma is a respiratory disorder, observation and avoidance of triggers is an essential non pharmacological intervention to be taken. The patient should be able to identify aspects that trigger the attack and create a safe environment for themselves at all times. These can be allergens such as dust, cold, perfumes or scents, fur, pollen, and food. Elimination of these will result in minimal reported or experienced asthmatic attacks by Ms. Whitney in collaboration with adherence to the medication prescribed for her daily usage.

Patient Education 

Ms. Whitney requires patient education in relation to why an inflammatory drug is recommended as opposed to the bronchodilator medication she has been using for the last three months. This information will be helpful for adherence to the drug use as recommended by the doctor. Patient education is also essential concerning the possible side effects of the recommended drug so that she is aware of what can happen and when she requires contacting the doctor (Boulet, et al., 2015) .

Contraindication of the drug is a critical part of patient education. Ms. Whitney need to understand that not all other drugs can be used with prednisone thus the need for consultation with the doctor prior to commencing the usage. This is also due to her indication or the need to start birth control method, this information will help her choose a non-hormonal approach to avoid complications of the drug.

References

Bello, L., Gordish-Dressman, H., Morgenroth, L. P., Henricson, E. K., Duong, T., Hoffman, E. P., et al. (2015). Prednisone/prednisolone and deflazacort regimens in the CINRG Duchenne Natural History Study. Nuerology org, 85 (12). https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000195

Boulet, L.-P., Boulay, M.-È., Gauthier, G., Battistib, L., Chabot, V., Beauchesne, M.-F., et al. (2015). Benefits of an asthma education program provided at primary care sites on asthma outcomes. REspiratory Medicine, 109 (8), 991-1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2015.05.004

Brahmer, J. R., Lacchetti, C., Schneider, B. J., Atkins, M. B., Brassil, K. J., Caterino, J. M., et al. (2018). Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol, 36 (10), 1714–1768. 10.1200/JCO.2017.77.6385

O'Byrne, P. M., Jenkins, C., & Bateman, E. D. (2017). The paradoxes of asthma management: time for a new approach? European Respiratory Journal , 10.1183/13993003.01103-2017.

Sinha, S. (2019). Prednisone. Drug.com .