Isn’t a Nebulizer for Asthma Patients?

While asthmatics are among the patients who use nebulizers most often, nebulizers are not used by asthma patients alone. Patients with other obstructive pulmonary diseases like emphysema and bronchitis may also benefit from nebulizer therapy. Recently, nebulizer therapy for the treatment of sinus infections has also gained popularity and approval by health professionals.

Why Not Oral Medications?

There are a lot of trusted sinus infection medications in the market right now. For decongestants, you might have heard (or even taken) those that contain phenylephrine or pseudoephrine. For antibiotics, erythromycin and fluoroquinolones are included among those which are often prescribed. Taking a medication orally is convenient and rarely bothersome even for a young child. That is why it is unsurprisingly the preferred method of administration. However, if a patient has difficulty in swallowing, has impaired renal and/or hepatic function, or has another medical condition, such as hypertension, oral medications may not be a good choice. The reason for this is that the active ingredient of the medication may affect not only the sinuses but the entire body system as well.

How About Nasal Sprays?

Nasal sprays that contain corticosteroids and decongestants are widely in use right now. Indeed, nasal sprays have permitted direct introduction of these medications directly (also called topical application) into the affected nasal passages and sinuses. However, sinus infections are also treated with agents like antibiotics or anti-fungal. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot (if there are any at all) of these antimicrobials available in nasal sprays. In addition, the sprayed (or squirted) medication is more likely to reach and come in contact only with the part of the nasal passages near the nostrils, but not the sinus passages located well behind the nasal cavities.

So Why a Nebulizer?

Just like using a nasal spray, nebulizer therapy can be considered as topical administration, since the medicated mist is allowed to come in contact with the affected membranes through direct inhalation. This method enables the drug to take effect immediately to obtain relief faster compared to oral medication. Using a nebulizer, the mist or aerosol is able to reach much farther into the affected sinus cavities even when they are congested. Of course, not all nebulizers are created equal. Nebulizers have unique features that give them advantages over competing brands of nebulizers available in the market. One particular nebulizer, called SinusAero, aerosolizes efficiently, leaving virtually no residual liquid, and operates without using propellants or generating heat, thereby preserving a drug’s molecular integrity in order to maximize its intended pharmacologic effect. Sinus Dynamics, which manufactures SinusAero, is also a sinusitis compounding pharmacy. A sinusitis compounding pharmacy is one that specializes in the preparation of customized medications appropriate for the needs of individual patients. Sinus Dynamics has a complete line of liquid medications including antibiotics, anti-fungal, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medicines. Coupled with its state-of-the-art nebulizers and medicated irrigators, it has gained its reputation as one of the leading sinusitis compounding pharmacies.