Part 1: Asthma Pharmacotherapy

ILOs

• Describe the routes of delivery, mechanism of action, side-effects and important drug interactions of
  • bronchodilator drugs
  • corticosteroid therapy
  • theophylline therapy
• Be able to calculate the dose of theophylline and interpret drug levels
• Describe the indication for intravenous magnesium
• Describe the role of biological therapy in asthma

• What is the aim of chronic asthma management?
• Explain the purpose of intermittent reliever therapy. What agents do we use, and why?
• Outline the mechanism of action of bronchodilators, indications, side effects and important pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics…
• Explain the purpose of regular preventer therapy…
• Outline the mechanism of action of corticosteroids, indications and side effects…
• What are the alternatives we have for preventer therapies?
• If a low dose ICS isn’t controlling asthma adequately… what do we do?
• And even if that’s done… then?
• Explain what MART is? What does it rely on?
• Okay, if you do all these things, and asthma control is still inadequate, then what do we do?
• Outline the mechanism of actions of leukotriene receptor antagonists, examples and uses…
• How do anti-muscarinics work? Give their indications, side effects and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics…
• How do methylxanthines work? Give their indications, side effects and pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics…