Bronchodilators - Short-acting Beta-2 Agonists (SABA)

These drugs act quickly within 5-15 minutes and are effective for 3-5 hours. They are given for the immediate relief of breathlessness.

They come in inhaler form and also can be nebulised.

Precautions:

• Some patients develop an over-reliance on inhaler use due to prompt relief of symptoms and impression that the inhaler is ‘helping’.
• Symptoms are only relieved. Bronchodilators do not contribute to control of underlying disease and may mask severity of disease.
• Increasing need for bronchodilator medication may suggest declining control of condition.
• Patients may be using short acting bronchodilators for relief of symptoms that are unrelated to their respiratory condition and may require medical or specialist review.