What if I use inhalers, nebulizers, or oral asthma medications?
| Some medications can interfere with the breathing tests. If possible, do not take these medications before your medical testing, as described below. However, if you need to use your medication, please do so and still have the medical testing. If you have any questions, please contact your healthcare provider. You may also contact the NIOSH physician at 1-800-232-2114.
|
Medication
| Examples
| Instructions
|
Short-acting β-agonist bronchodilators (inhaler or nebulizer)
| AccuNeb Albuterol Asmavent Levalbuterol Maxair Autohaler ProAir HFA Proventil HFA
| Pirbuterol Salbutamol Ventolin HFA VoSpire ER Xopenex Xopenex HFA
| If possible, please skip for 4 hours before your medical testing.
|
Short-acting anticholinergic bronchodilators (inhaler)
| Atrovent Atrovent HFA
| Combivent Duoneb Ipratropium
| If possible, please skip for 4 hours before your medical testing.
|
Long-acting β-agonist bronchodilators with or without steroids (inhaler or nebulizer)
| Advair Advair HFA Arformoterol Brovana Dulera Foradil
| Formoterol Perforomist Salmeterol Serevent Diskus Symbicort
| If possible, please skip for 12 hours before your medical testing.
|
Long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilators (inhaler)
| Spiriva
| Tiotropium
| If possible, please skip for 24 hours before your medical testing.
|
Leukotriene modifiers (oral medication)
| Accolate Montelukast Singulair
| Zafirlukast Zileuton Zyflo CR
| If possible, please skip for 24 hours before your medical testing.
|
| Steroid inhalers
| AeroBid AeroBid-M Aerospan Alvesco Asmanex Twisthaler Azmacort Beclomethasone Budesonide Ciclesonide
| Flovent HFA Flovent Diskus Flunisolide Fluticasone Mometasone Pulmicort Respules Pulmicort Flexhaler QVAR Triamcinolone
| If possible, do not take on day of testing.
|