Would you like to know exactly what your doctor says about the medicine (Racepinephrine) given through a nebulizer?

Sometimes it's hard to breathe, right? The chest tightens, the wheezing sound is heard... This is a familiar and very uncomfortable experience for people with respiratory diseases like asthma . At times like these, when the airways are constricted and it's hard to breathe ( bronchospasm ), a special medicine called Racepinephrine is used by doctors to provide quick relief. This is usually called a "quick-relief" or "rescue" medicine. Let's talk about this simply.

What kind of medicine is Racepinephrine?

Simply put, this is a medicine that widens the narrowed, narrowed airways in your lungs, making it easier to breathe. Just like a water pipe is blocked, it is difficult to breathe when our airways are blocked. This medicine works by removing the blockage and opening up the airways again. It usually comes as a liquid, which is put into a machine called a nebulizer, and the body gets it by inhaling the vapors.

Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine

Before giving you this medicine, it is very important that your doctor is fully aware of your health condition. Because this medicine can interact with some medical conditions. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor.

• If you have been hospitalized before due to asthma
• Diabetes​
• Glaucoma condition
• If you have heart disease or an irregular heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• A condition called pheochromocytoma
• Prostate problems
• If you have had seizures before
• If you have had a stroke
• If you have taken an MAOI antidepressant such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate within the past 14 days .
• Thyroid diseases
• If you have had an allergic reaction to racepinephrine, epinephrine, or any other medicine, food, or dye.
• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• If you are a breastfeeding mother

How exactly do I use this medicine?

This medicine is taken by inhalation using a device called a nebulizer. The nebulizer turns the liquid medicine into a fine mist (aerosol) that you can breathe in through your mouth or nose. This mist goes directly into your lungs.

• Use only as directed by your doctor, in the amount prescribed . Never use more than the recommended amount or more often.
• This medicine is also given to children over 4 years of age in some selected cases. However, it has special precautions, so talk to your doctor carefully if using it on a child.

What to do if you take too much medicine?

If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, do not delay . Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

What if I miss a dose?

This is not a medication to be taken at a set time each day. It is used only in an emergency when you have difficulty breathing. Therefore, skipping a dose does not apply to this.

Other medications that may interact with this medicine

Other medications you are taking can affect how this medicine works. So tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal products, and vitamins. Racepinephrine may interact with the following medications in particular:

Things to be careful about when using the medicine

See your doctor on scheduled days to see if your symptoms are improving or worsening. If your symptoms are not improving or seem to be getting worse, tell your doctor.

• If the pain does not subside after 20 minutes of taking the medicine.
• If symptoms get worse .
• If you need to use this medicine more than 12 times in 24 hours.
• If you have to use it more than 3 days a week, more than 9 times a day.
• If you have more than two asthma attacks per week.

Side effects that may occur due to medication

Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. Some of them are serious, some of them are common.

How do you store and dispose of the medicine?

• Keep out of reach of children and pets .
• Store at a temperature between 2 and 25 degrees Celsius (36 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Never freeze.
• Protect from light. Keep unopened vials in their aluminum foil pouch.
• Never use after the expiration date.
• Ask your doctor how to safely dispose of expired or no longer needed medications. Don't just throw these in the trash.