- 1. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories
- 2. Mucolytics and expectorants
- 3. Antibiotics
- 4. Bronchodilators
- 5. Corticoids
In most cases, bronchitis is treated at home, with rest and drinking a good amount of fluids, without the need for medication.
However, if with these measures the bronchitis does not go away, or if it is a chronic bronchitis, whose symptoms can last for more than 3 months, it may be necessary to resort to remedies such as antibiotics, bronchodilators or mucolytics.
Chronic bronchitis is a COPD that has no cure and it is usually necessary to use drugs to keep the disease under control or to treat symptoms in periods of exacerbation of the disease. Learn more about COPD and how treatment is done.
The most used remedies to treat bronchitis are:
1. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, for example, are used to relieve symptoms such as fever and pain associated with acute or chronic bronchitis.
It is important to note that people who suffer from asthma should not take ibuprofen or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, such as aspirin, naproxen, nimesulide, among others.
2. Mucolytics and expectorants
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe mucolytics, such as acetylcysteine, bromhexine or ambroxol, for example, which help to relieve productive cough, since they act by lysing mucus, making it more fluid and therefore easier to eliminate.
These drugs can be used in cases of acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis and also in their exacerbations, but it should be used with caution in children under 6 years old, and only with medical supervision.
Drinking a lot of water helps to make the medicine more effective and to dilute and eliminate mucus more easily.
3. Antibiotics
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, so antibiotics are prescribed very rarely.
In most cases, the doctor will only prescribe an antibiotic if there is a risk of developing pneumonia, which can happen if it is a premature baby, an elderly person, people with a history of heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, with a weakened immune system or people with cystic fibrosis.
4. Bronchodilators
Generally, bronchodilators are administered for cases of chronic bronchitis, as continuous treatment or in exacerbations and in some cases of acute bronchitis.
These drugs are used, in most cases, through an inhaler and work by relaxing the muscle of the walls of the small airways, opening these routes and allowing a relief of the chest tightness and cough, facilitating breathing.
Some examples of bronchodilators used to treat bronchitis are salbutamol, salmeterol, formoterol or ipratropium bromide, for example. These medications can also be administered by nebulization, especially in the elderly or people with a decreased breathing capacity.
5. Corticoids
In some cases the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids for oral administration, such as prednisone, or inhalation, such as fluticasone or budesonide, for example, which reduce inflammation and irritation in the lungs.
Corticosteroid inhalers often also have an associated bronchodilator, such as salmeterol or formoterol, for example, which are long-acting bronchodilators and are generally used in continuous treatment.
In addition to pharmacological treatment, there are other ways to treat bronchitis, such as nebulizations with saline, physiotherapy or oxygen administration. In addition, the symptoms can also be mitigated by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise, avoiding smoking and eating a balanced diet. Learn more about bronchitis and other treatment methods.
