Bronchodilators are a class of drugs that are used to treat constriction or narrowing of the airways in respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They work by relaxing and dilating (widening) the bronchial tubes and air passages in the lungs allowing for easier breathing. There are primarily two major classes of it- short-acting and long-acting.
Short-Acting Bronchodilators
They provide fast relief from bronchoconstriction but have a relatively short duration of action usually less than 6 hours.Examples of short-acting include albuterol, levalbuterol and metaproterenol. They are used on an as needed basis for symptomatic relief from acute shortness of breath caused by bronchoconstriction. These are available both as inhalers and nebulizers depending on the severity of symptoms. They work within 5-15 minutes and relief lasts up to 4-6 hours.
Long-Acting Bronchodilators
They provide Bronchodilators for a prolonged period, usually over 12 hours,with a single dose. This makes them more convenient for maintenance treatment of asthma and COPD. Common long-acting include salmeterol, formoterol, arformoterol, indacaterol and olodaterol. They are usually used as regular controller medication along with inhaled corticosteroids. Due to their long duration of action they are commonly prescribed for long term management of respiratory symptoms.
Drug Class
Based on drug class, the global market can be divided into:
- Short-acting Bronchodilators: This segment currently holds the largest share of the market and includes drugs like albuterol and levabuterol. Ease of use and fast relief provided makes them the preferred choice for acute exacerbations.
- Long-acting Bronchodilators: This segment is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period. Drugs like salmeterol, formoterol and tiotropium provide sustained bronchodilation throughout the day using just one inhalation.
- Combination Drugs: Fixed dose combinations of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists in single inhalers have also gained popularity. Examples include fluticasone-salmeterol and budesonide-formoterol combinations.
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