Asthma Aware Pharmacies

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Asthma AwarePharmacies

• For Pharmacy Assistants

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What Is Asthma?

• Involves airway inflammation and sensitivity
  twitchy airways
• This inflammation causes
• muscle contraction
• swelling of airway lining
• production of excess mucus
• The cause is unknown
• Asthma is mostly reversible and treatable

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What happens to the air tubes in asthma?
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Asthma Trigger Factors

• Respiratory infections
• Exercise
• Pollens
• Dust Mites
• Smoke
• Animals
• Weather changes

• Emotions
• Moulds
• Sprays/aerosols
• Foods/Artificial colourings preservatives
• Medications

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Recognising Asthma

• Cough
• Wheeze
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing

• Difficulty in speaking
• Chest tightness

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Asthma Medication RELIEVERS(Blue)

• Used to relieve symptoms and relax tight muscles
  around airways
• Can be used before exercise (protection)
• Safe non-addictive used in asthma emergencies
  effects last 4 hours
• WORK WITHIN 3 MINUTES
• Common NamesVentolin, Airomir, Asmol, Bricanyl,
  Epaq,
• Atrovent (green)

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Asthma Medication PREVENTERSAutumn Colours
(Brown, Orange, White, Yellow)

• Reduce frequency and severity of attacks
• Reduce sensitivity of airways
• Taken regularly every day at home
• NOT TO BE USED IN EMERGENCIES
• Common Names
• Intal, Intal Forte, Tilade,Pulmicort, Flixotide,
  Qvar

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Asthma Medication SYMPTOM CONTROLLERS(Green)

• Long acting relievers
• Relax tight muscles around airways
• Taken in conjunction with preventer therapy
• Effective for about 12 hours but peak effect
  occurs after 1 to 2 hours
• NOT TO BE USED IN EMERGENCIES
• Common Names
• Serevent, Foradile, Oxis

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Asthma Medications COMBINATION MEDICATIONS

• Combination of a Preventer and Symptom Controller
• Not to be used in an emergency
• Common Names
• Seretide Combines Flixotide Serevent
• Symbicort Combines Pulmicort Oxis gt12 years

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Asthma Medication Devices

• Metered Dose Inhaler (Puffer)
• Autohaler
• Accuhaler
• Turbuhaler

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Delivery Devices and Monitoring Devices

• Delivery Devices
• Spacer
• Nebuliser
• Monitoring Devices
• Peak Flow Meter
• Spirometer

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Spacers Large-volume and small-volume spacers

• To be used with aerosol inhalers only
• Can increase the amount of medication reaching
  the lungs
• Reduce the amount that stays in the throat
• Are especially useful for
• children, people with poor co-ordination, people
  prescribed preventers via puffers, acute asthma
  attacks

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Spacer
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Spacers v Nebulisers

• Studies have shown using a MDI puffer with a
  spacer is as effective as a nebuliser when
  equivalent dosages are given
• Some hospitals have made shift from nebuliser use
  to puffer spacer use within emergency department
  and ward setting e.g. Royal Childrens Hospital
  Asthma Management Policy

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Cleaning a Puffer Spacer

• Remove canister from puffer container and
  separate the spacer
• Wash container spacer in hot water and kitchen
  detergent
• Allow to air dry
• Wipe the mouthpiece thoroughly with a
• 70 alcohol swab
• When completely dry, replace canister test

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Pharmacy Assistants Role

• Making sure OTC sales of relievers are
  accompanied by a consultation from a pharmacist.
• Encouraging customers with MDIs to purchase a
  spacer.
• Inform customers on the correct way to clean a
  spacer and puffer.

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What is the Asthma 3 Visit Plan?

• A proven best-practice approach that comprises a
  series of at least three GP visits solely for
  asthma
• Two of these consultations must be planned
  recalls
• Three visits must be completed within 4 months
  (not before 4 weeks)
• Targeted towards individuals with moderate to
  severe asthma

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Components of 3 Visits

• Full assessment of how severe your asthma is
• Review how your medications are working
• Provide you with a written Asthma Action Plan
• Provide you with information and education on how
  to live with your asthma
• Assessment of lung function (Spirometry to become
  mandatory for gt 12 years of age)

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Asthma Educators

• Cardinia Casey Community Health Service employ an
  asthma educator.
• They help people with asthma to understand their
  asthma and make sure they have the correct
  technique.
• Approx. 96 of people using MDIs use them
  incorrectly!