The physician in the emergency department is attending to a 12-year-old child who has an exacerbation of asthma. The physician asks the therapist to recommend a medication that has a synergistic effect with beta-2 agonists during asthma exacerbations. Which of the following medications should the therapist recommend?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Although beta-2 agonists are the first-line agents for treating an exacerbation of asthma, data in both adults and children suggest that ipratropium bromide is synergistic with beta-2 agonists for the therapy of acute asthma. Combination bronchodilator therapy using albuterol and ipratropium in patients with severe asthma significantly reduces the percentage of patients hospitalized.

The Physician in the Emergency Department Is Attending to a 12-Year-Old