Treatment - Medical

PCL TASK
Management of Cystic Fibrosis
Medical
• Bronchodilators
• Improved breathing
• Improved Antibiotics
 Better at fighting infections
 Administered intravenously, orally or inhaled – treat mucus-clogged airways
 Nebulised drugs (steroids, bronchodilators, antibiotics)
 Breathing Devices
• OPEP
• Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure
• As the patient breathes through these, airflow vibrations are created that help to break the mucus loose from the airway walls
• The pressure generated in exhalation keeps the airways open
• Enriched diet
 CF affects the digestive system, the body does not absorb enough nutrients
LUNGS
 Drugs work in the following ways –
• Bronchodilator drugs – open the airways by relaxing surrounding muscle. Relieve tightness and shortness of breath
• Antibiotics – treat or control persistent infection
• Steroids – reduce inflammation in the airways
PANCREAS
- Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency is a common symptom of CF
- CF affects the pancreas so enzyme replacement capsules should be taken with meals to replace pancreatic enzymes and enable people with CF to gain more energy from the foods they eat
- pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy – specially coated enzyme beads. Swallowed in capsules. A dietician will advise on the different concentrations of enzymes needed for different foods.
- interestingly, Australia’s climate is not suited to maintaining the potency of coated microspheres – which must be stored below 250C, in a dark and dry environment.
Enzymes available in Australia are:
CREON® - Solvay Pharmaceuticals (available in several strenghts)
COTAZYM® - Organon
PANCREASE - Janssen-Cilag - Discontinued in Australia December 2005
OTHER ORGAN
- If bones are affected by a lack of minerals, they may get osteoporosis
- Bisphosphanates have been shown to be beneficial

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cysticfibrosis.html#cat3
http://www.yourlunghealth.org/lung_disease/cystic_fibrosis/treatment/index.cfm
http://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/treatment/medication/