Inhaled Medicines

• Depending on the severity of the attack, the patient may receive continuous nebulizer albuterol treatments, or treatments from every 20 minutes to every four hours. Nebulized Ipratropium may be used in conjunction with albuterol.
  
  

Intravenous Medicines

• Intravenous magnesium sulfate, steroids and terbutaline may be used to relax and open the airway.
  
  

Heliox

• Heliox is a mixture of oxygen and helium. The helium helps carry oxygen beyond the constricted areas of the airway.
  
  

Intubation

• According to Dr. Brenner, even with the combined listed therapies, 5 percent to 10 percent of all emergency room asthmatics will be intubated (breathing tube and ventilator) and transferred to intensive care. The above therapies are continued there along with other treatments such as intravenous ketamine.
  
  

Considerations

• Some of the signs that an asthmatic may need to visit the emergency room include shortness of breath, retractions (skin sinks in around ribs during breathing), bluish tint, lethargy, chest pain, anxiety, sweating or a feeling of impending doom. It may take up to 12 hours after medicines are given before deciding to admit a patient or discharge him home.