Inhaled Medications and Nebulizers
Main Page
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Stanford CF Center staff recommend the following sequence
for inhaled medications:
- Bronchodilators (albuterol, Combivent™, Xopenex™) to open the airways
- Hypertonic Saline (7%) to mobilize mucus and induce airway clearance
- Pulmozyme™ (DNAse) to thin mucus (Note: studies find no significant differences for order of
inhaling DNAse,
hence patient preference can govern timing.)
- Airway Clearance Technique: Vest, Flutter™, chest PT, IPPV, etc.
- Antibiotics (TOBI™, Colistin). The previous therapies open and clear the airways of mucus,
thereby improving
the distribution and therapeutic impact of these medications.
- Steroids (Flovent™, Pulmicort™, QVAR™)
If you start coughing blood, stop Pulmozine™, saline, airway clearance technique, and inhaled
antibiotics. Call your CF doctor or nurse for further advice.
With a respiratory illness or change in symptoms:
- Begin or increase airway clearance techniques.
- Use breathing treatments as ordered; you can use bronchodilators every three to four hours,
and often additional
Vest and/or hypertonic saline treatments are useful.
- Contact your CF doctor or nurse to see if antibiotics or additional intervention is needed.
Main Page
