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You are in: Home > Chest Information > Treatments > Drug Treatments

Drug Treatments

Drugs that are commonly used to treat chest conditions include:

• Antibiotics
• Oral steroids
• Oral bronchodilators

Different manufacturers use different brand names for the same drug so you may find that the packaging and the name on the packet you get from your pharmacy sometimes varies. The ingredients will tell you the name of the drug which the packet contains.

• Always take your drugs as prescribed by your doctor.
• Report any side effects but do not stop taking any drugs suddenly or without your doctor's advice.
• Discuss all over–the–counter remedies with your pharmacist to make sure they won't interact with any prescribed drugs you are taking.

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Antibiotics

Antibiotics are a group of drugs that fight bacterial infections. There are different ways to take antibiotics:

• Orally (tablets or liquids)
• Intra–venously (also known as 'IV')
• Nebulised (inhaled with use of a special machine called a nebuliser)

Some antibiotics treat a wide range of bacterial infections. However, some bacteria are only sensitive to certain antibiotics. You may be asked for a sputum sample before you start a course of antibiotics. This helps to make sure you are prescribed the correct antibiotic to treat the germs that are growing in your lungs. Depending on your symptoms and the results of your sputum samples you may be prescribed more than one antibiotic.

Usually you will be prescribed a course of antibiotics which will last between 7 and 14 days. Sometimes you may need antibiotics for a longer period.

The most common side effects are:

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Skin rashes
• Thrush (common yeast infection)

Talk to your doctor about any troublesome side effects that you are having. It might be necessary to try a different antibiotic.

Oral antibiotics

• Always take the full course of your antibiotics as prescribed.
• Take as recommended by the chemist on the label, e.g. with or without food or with milk.
• If you feel you are not improving by the 3rd or 4th day, or you are feeling worse, do not stop taking your antibiotics but contact your doctor. It might be necessary to change to a different antibiotic.

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics

This involves a small tube or a cannula being inserted into a vein (usually in your arm). The antibiotics are given directly into the cannula.

You may need IV antibiotics if:

• You are very unwell.
• The infection has not responded, or is resistant, to oral antibiotics.

Sometimes you will need to be admitted to hospital to receive IV antibiotics.

Nebulised antibiotics

Some bacteria may respond better to nebulised antibiotics. In particular, your doctor may suggest long–term nebulised antibiotic treatment if you have bronchiectasis and you are growing pseudomonas aeruginosa in your sputum.

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Oral steroids

Steroids (e.g. prednisolone) may be prescribed to help you get over a flare–up of your symptoms if they are not improving with your usual treatment.

Steroids are usually prescribed at a higher dose and then reduced over a period of time before stopping. Even if you feel better you must never stop taking your steroids suddenly without consulting your doctor.

Sometimes it is necessary to be on steroids for longer periods of time. If this is the case it is advisable to carry a steroid treatment card on you. You may develop some side effects including:

• Thin skin
• Osteoporosis ('thinning of the bones')
• Muscle wasting
• Increased appetite
• Increased weight / facial puffiness
• Mood or behaviour changes
• Bruising easily
• Healing slowly after injury, e.g. cuts
• High blood sugar

Despite their side effects, steroids can be very useful drugs. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about any side effects.

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Oral bronchodilators

Oral bronchodilators (e.g. theophylline) are usually only given to people who have not had effective relief from inhalers or who cannot use inhalers.

They help to widen your airways by relaxing the muscles around them.

Side effects, which may be greater than with inhalers, include headaches, nausea, insomnia, vomiting, irritability and stomach upsets. Your doctor will monitor your progress carefully.

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