Drugs for Allergy and Respiratory Problems
Assignment 9
Key Terms:
Define the following Terms:
1. Allergy: It’s also known as hypersensitivity. An excessive reaction that leads to an inflammatory
response when a person encounters a substance (allergen) to which he or she is sensitive. It is a
common immune response to substances such as pollen, animal dander, food, or dust.
2. Antihistamine: Drugs that stop histamines from attaching to histamine receptors in the tissues
and producing inflammatory and allergic symptoms. This action counteracts the response of
histamine in causing smooth muscle contraction and dilation and leakage of capillaries.
3. Antitussive: Drugs that work to prevent and/or relieve coughing.
4. Asthma controller drug: Drugs that have the main purpose of preventing an asthma attack. Also
known as asthma prevention drugs. These drugs must be taken daily even when no asthma
symptoms are present. Also known as prevention drugs.
5. Asthma reliever drug: Drugs that have the main purpose of stopping an asthma attack once it
has started. Also known as asthma reduce drugs.
6. Bronchodilator: Drugs that relax the airway smooth muscles allowing the lumen of the airways
to widen.
7. Cholinergic Antagonist: Drugs that block the action of acetylcholine thereby stopping the
parasympathetic nervous system response. Also known as cholinergic blockers,
parasympatholytic, or anticholinergic drugs.
8. Corticosteroid: Drugs built on the structure of cholesterol that area able to prevent or limit
inflammation and allergy by slowing or stopping production of the mediators histamine and
leukotriene.
9. Decongestant: Drugs that reduce the swelling pf nasal passages by shrinking the small blood
vessels in the nose, throat, and sinuses so breathing is easier.
10. Leukotriene inhibitor: Drugs that block the leukotriene response and lessen or prevent the
symptoms of allergy or asthma.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
, Drugs for Allergy and Respiratory Problems
Assignment 9
11. Long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist (LABA): Orally inhaled drugs that bind over time to beta2-
adrenergic receptors and are used as asthma controller drugs that must be taken on a daily
schedule to prevent bronchospasms and asthma attacks even when symptoms are not present.
12. Mast cell stabilizer (cromone): Drugs that work on the surface of mast cells and prevent them
from opening to release the inflammatory mediators.
13. Mucolytics: Drugs that decrease the thickness of respiratory secretions and aid in their removal.
Also called expectorants.
14. Short-acting beta-adrenergic agonist (SABA): Orally inhaled drugs that bind rapidly to beta2-
adrenergic receptors and can start smooth muscle relaxation within seconds to minutes. Also
called beta- and/or alpha-adrenergic agonists.
15. Sympathomimetics: Drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous system and have the same
actions as the body’s own adrenalin. Also called beta- and/or alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Allergy
1. Describe what an allergy is:
An excessive reaction that leads to an inflammatory response when a person
comes into contact with a substance or allergen to which he or she is sensitive.
2. Allergies are also known as?
Hypersensitivity.
3. When the immune system overreacts to an allergen, symptoms appear where? Where
the allergen entered or touched the body, usually in the nose, lungs, throat, or on the skin.
4. The purpose of the immune system is to:
To protect the body from living substances that cause infections such as virus, bacteria,
and fungi.
5. What nonliving substance does the immune system also protects the body from because it views
it as dangerous?
Drugs, toxins, and chemicals.
6. What is an antigen?
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
, Drugs for Allergy and Respiratory Problems
Assignment 9
An “invader”, because they are not part of the body and can trigger the immune system
to take protective actions.
7. Describe antibodies:
Antibodies are produced by a specific immune system cell known as lymphocytes in the
bloodstream created to protect the body.
8. What is the action of an antibody?
It’s action is to either neutralize the offending antigen or cause it to be
destroyed and eliminated from the body.
9. The lymphocytes make five different antibodies or immunoglobulins (Igs) for protection, list
them:
IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM
10. Which immunoglobulin is the antibody defense against allergens?
IgE
11. What important mediators are released by WBCs when antibodies react with allergens?
Histamine and leukotriene
12. What does histamine start?
It starts the inflammation
13. What does leukotriene do?
It works with histamine to keep the inflammatory response going once it started.
14. These mediators, especially histamine cause what to happen in the body?
It causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation and leakage of capillaries, which
explains the symptoms of swelling, redness, tissue irritation, and mucous production.
Drug Therapy for Allergy
1. Drugs used to treat allergies are those that interfere with what?
Interfere with inflammation.
2. What drugs interfere with inflammation?
Antihistamines, leukotriene blockers, and corticosteroids.
K Rowe LVN Page 3 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
Assignment 9
Key Terms:
Define the following Terms:
1. Allergy: It’s also known as hypersensitivity. An excessive reaction that leads to an inflammatory
response when a person encounters a substance (allergen) to which he or she is sensitive. It is a
common immune response to substances such as pollen, animal dander, food, or dust.
2. Antihistamine: Drugs that stop histamines from attaching to histamine receptors in the tissues
and producing inflammatory and allergic symptoms. This action counteracts the response of
histamine in causing smooth muscle contraction and dilation and leakage of capillaries.
3. Antitussive: Drugs that work to prevent and/or relieve coughing.
4. Asthma controller drug: Drugs that have the main purpose of preventing an asthma attack. Also
known as asthma prevention drugs. These drugs must be taken daily even when no asthma
symptoms are present. Also known as prevention drugs.
5. Asthma reliever drug: Drugs that have the main purpose of stopping an asthma attack once it
has started. Also known as asthma reduce drugs.
6. Bronchodilator: Drugs that relax the airway smooth muscles allowing the lumen of the airways
to widen.
7. Cholinergic Antagonist: Drugs that block the action of acetylcholine thereby stopping the
parasympathetic nervous system response. Also known as cholinergic blockers,
parasympatholytic, or anticholinergic drugs.
8. Corticosteroid: Drugs built on the structure of cholesterol that area able to prevent or limit
inflammation and allergy by slowing or stopping production of the mediators histamine and
leukotriene.
9. Decongestant: Drugs that reduce the swelling pf nasal passages by shrinking the small blood
vessels in the nose, throat, and sinuses so breathing is easier.
10. Leukotriene inhibitor: Drugs that block the leukotriene response and lessen or prevent the
symptoms of allergy or asthma.
K Rowe LVN Page 1 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
, Drugs for Allergy and Respiratory Problems
Assignment 9
11. Long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist (LABA): Orally inhaled drugs that bind over time to beta2-
adrenergic receptors and are used as asthma controller drugs that must be taken on a daily
schedule to prevent bronchospasms and asthma attacks even when symptoms are not present.
12. Mast cell stabilizer (cromone): Drugs that work on the surface of mast cells and prevent them
from opening to release the inflammatory mediators.
13. Mucolytics: Drugs that decrease the thickness of respiratory secretions and aid in their removal.
Also called expectorants.
14. Short-acting beta-adrenergic agonist (SABA): Orally inhaled drugs that bind rapidly to beta2-
adrenergic receptors and can start smooth muscle relaxation within seconds to minutes. Also
called beta- and/or alpha-adrenergic agonists.
15. Sympathomimetics: Drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous system and have the same
actions as the body’s own adrenalin. Also called beta- and/or alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Allergy
1. Describe what an allergy is:
An excessive reaction that leads to an inflammatory response when a person
comes into contact with a substance or allergen to which he or she is sensitive.
2. Allergies are also known as?
Hypersensitivity.
3. When the immune system overreacts to an allergen, symptoms appear where? Where
the allergen entered or touched the body, usually in the nose, lungs, throat, or on the skin.
4. The purpose of the immune system is to:
To protect the body from living substances that cause infections such as virus, bacteria,
and fungi.
5. What nonliving substance does the immune system also protects the body from because it views
it as dangerous?
Drugs, toxins, and chemicals.
6. What is an antigen?
K Rowe LVN Page 2 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
, Drugs for Allergy and Respiratory Problems
Assignment 9
An “invader”, because they are not part of the body and can trigger the immune system
to take protective actions.
7. Describe antibodies:
Antibodies are produced by a specific immune system cell known as lymphocytes in the
bloodstream created to protect the body.
8. What is the action of an antibody?
It’s action is to either neutralize the offending antigen or cause it to be
destroyed and eliminated from the body.
9. The lymphocytes make five different antibodies or immunoglobulins (Igs) for protection, list
them:
IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM
10. Which immunoglobulin is the antibody defense against allergens?
IgE
11. What important mediators are released by WBCs when antibodies react with allergens?
Histamine and leukotriene
12. What does histamine start?
It starts the inflammation
13. What does leukotriene do?
It works with histamine to keep the inflammatory response going once it started.
14. These mediators, especially histamine cause what to happen in the body?
It causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation and leakage of capillaries, which
explains the symptoms of swelling, redness, tissue irritation, and mucous production.
Drug Therapy for Allergy
1. Drugs used to treat allergies are those that interfere with what?
Interfere with inflammation.
2. What drugs interfere with inflammation?
Antihistamines, leukotriene blockers, and corticosteroids.
K Rowe LVN Page 3 of 21 Rev: Jan 2-19
