The choice of a drug for the treatment of bronchial asthma is carried out by a doctor on the basis of available diagnostic data, taking into account the causes of the disease. The main objectives of therapy are to prevent bronchospasm and quickly relieve symptoms of respiratory failure. The use of the drug Berodual helps to quickly achieve a noticeable improvement in the patient’s condition, is suitable for the treatment of adults, children and pregnant women in the second trimester, and also allows you to delay the need to prescribe hormonal drugs.
Indications for admission
Berodual is prescribed for chronic respiratory diseases, the main symptom of which is obstruction of the airways, accompanied by reversible bronchospasm and bouts of dry cough. The official manufacturer of the medicinal product in the accompanying instructions indicates the following indications for its appointment:
- Bronchial asthma, including allergic type, provoked by external and internal irritants.
- Pulmonary obstruction and pneumonia.
- Chronic obstructive bronchitis.
- Emphysema of the lungs.
- Chronic pathologies of the respiratory system during an exacerbation, occurring with a pronounced obstruction syndrome.
Emphysema of the lungs
Berodual helps to prepare the airways for the administration of hormones, mucolytics , antibiotics, and is also used for prophylactic and diagnostic purposes to clarify the pathogenesis of the disease.
Possible limitations
The list of existing contraindications specified in the instructions for use of the drug Berodual contains a long list of names of possible pathologies. Restrictions on the use of a drug can be temporary or permanent, therefore, the main condition for safe treatment with this drug is prior consultation with a doctor.
The group of absolute contraindications includes:
- First trimester of pregnancy and late prenatal period in women. At an early stage of gestation, taking Berodual can provoke anomalies in the development of the fetus, and in the later stages, the negative effect of taking the drug can manifest itself in suppressing the respiratory function of a newborn child.
- Heart diseases occurring with tachycardia syndrome, tachyarrhythmias, or with signs of myocardial hypertrophy.
- Individual intolerance to the active substance or hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
The group of relative contraindications includes diseases and pathological conditions of the body, in which the use of the drug Berodual is often accompanied by side effects and can only be taken under medical supervision:
- Arterial hypertension.
- Heart failure.
- Coronary heart disease.
- Diabetes.
- Obstruction of the urinary tract.
- BPH.
- Glaucoma.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Cystic fibrosis.
To treat bronchial asthma using the drug Berodual in the presence of the listed pathologies should be under the supervision of a physician and, preferably, in a hospital setting. For effective and safe home treatment, it is recommended to use medicines from a different group, similar in therapeutic effect, but differing in the active substance. The use of the drug for inhalation in children under one year old, elderly patients, pregnant and lactating women, as well as in patients with kidney pathology, can be used as an emergency aid. For long-term therapy – more than one month – it is preferable to use a combination of medicines from several pharmacological groups.
Mechanism of action
The description of the mechanism of action in the annotation contains medical terms and a large amount of scientific information that is difficult to understand and requires a competent explanation. If we summarize the information indicated by the manufacturer, then the principle of operation of the solution for inhalation or aerosol Berodual is to block histamine receptors and relax the smooth muscles of the bronchi. The mechanism of the combined effect of the two active components reduces the role of an allergic irritant in the occurrence of bronchospasm and restores airway patency. As a result, a person suffering from manifestations of obstruction begins to breathe normally. One of the advantages of the Berodual drug is that there are no hormonal components in its composition, unlike tablets, a medicine in the form of a spray or solution has a local effect, not involving the endocrine system in the process and not causing global rearrangements in the body. The positive effect of a single use is achieved after 15 minutes and lasts for 6 hours, which allows using Berodual in a conservative therapy regimen or to relieve exacerbation symptoms in adult patients 2-3 times a day.
Active components
The composition of the drug Berodual includes two active ingredients that provide a therapeutic effect. In the manufacture of the drug, fenoterol hydrobromide and ipratropium bromide monohydrate were used, which have bronchodilator activity. The original drug produced in Germany and Italy, in contrast to cheaper Indian substitutes, contains highly purified active ingredients in a certain proportion. 1 ml of solution contains 500 mcg of fenoterol and 260 mcg of ipratropium bromide.
Release forms
Berodual is produced in two dosage forms: the form of a solution for inhalation, which is intended for dilution, and a ready-to-use inhaler with a similar content of active ingredients.
- Ampoules or, more precisely, 20 ml liquid bottles are equipped with a plastic dropper cap with a first opening indicator, which makes it easy to count the drops to be used.
- The spray bottle Berodual N is designed for 200 injections and is equipped with a mouthpiece for ease of use. The inhaler contains a liquid, not a powder for spraying, unlike similar drugs for bronchial asthma.
Regardless of the form of release, the drug is dispensed from pharmacies by prescription.
Admission Guide
The frequency of administration and dosage of the drug Berodual are chosen by the doctor, taking into account individual characteristics, age and the presence of concomitant pathologies.
- It is necessary to make a solution for filling the nebulizer before each use. The old liquid is drained, the container is washed with running water and a new portion of the medicine diluted with saline is poured .
- You cannot drink Berodual , it is intended only for inhalation administration, and it is also not recommended to dilute the drug with distilled water.
- The use of a ready-made inhalation spray is allowed no more than 3 times a day, while the number of injections is determined by the doctor.
Treatment of infants up to a year with the help of the drug Berodual is rarely carried out. The features of the structure and functioning of the respiratory system in babies are different, therefore, pediatricians choose less potent drugs.
Adverse reactions
When treating with Berodual, it is important to choose the correct dosage and calculate the duration of the course. If the recommended scheme is followed, the likelihood of side effects is average:
- The use of the drug for a long time poses a danger of increasing the severity of attacks, which makes it difficult to provide first aid for relieving bronchospasm.
- During the use of the drug, adverse events from the cardiovascular system are noted, which manifest themselves in the form of tachycardia, increased blood pressure and arrhythmia attacks.
- Neurological symptoms – tremor, anxiety, convulsive readiness, insomnia, headaches, disruption of the external analyzers – occur when the dosage is significantly exceeded or with prolonged use of the drug.
- Quite often, kidney disorders occur, manifested in urinary retention, allergic, as well as negative gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
The occurrence of side effects is the reason for discontinuation of the drug and the choice of a drug from among the available analogues.