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Mast Cell Stabilizers
Parts of the immune system, mast cells are found mainly in tissues affected by allergies?including the eyes, nose, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs. When they are irritated, mast cells fall apart, letting out chemicals, such as histamine, that cause inflammation and swelling at the site. In turn, the inflammatory chemicals pull in other substances, which prolong inflammation.
Mast cell stabilizers keep mast cells from breaking down, releasing inflammatory chemicals, and attracting other chemicals. Not used to relieve acute asthma attacks, a mast cell stabilizer may take up to 6 weeks of continuous use before the maximum benefit is seen. They may be sprayed into the nose for treating allergies or inhaled for treating exercise-induced asthma or allergy-related asthma. Considered to be mildly to moderately effective, they are not as good as inhaled corticosteroids for controlling asthma. However, mast cell stabilizers have fewer side effects than corticosteroids, which may decrease growth for children who use them. Even though they must be inhaled through devices that may be hard for children to use, a mast cell stabilizer is often the first choice for the long-term control of asthma in children. For adults, mast cell stabilizers are not very effective when used alone, but they may be used as a second-line therapy in combination with other drugs.
Drugs in the class
Cromolyn Inhaler
(
Intal Inhaler
)
Nedocromil Inhaler
(
Nedocromil Hydrochloride Inhaler,
Tilade Inhaler
)
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