Treating Eosinophilic Asthma

Eosinophilic asthma is very rare, so getting diagnosed can take a while. But once doctors know you have it, they turn to treatments specifically focused on this kind of asthma.

Corticosteroids can help you breathe normally and prevent your asthma symptoms from worsening. You can use inhaled corticosteroids daily, but you should rinse your mouth afterward. Otherwise, you can get thrush, a fungal condition in your mouth. The inhaled versions may not work well in eosinophilic asthma, so you may need to take corticosteroid pills. But these have more side effects.

Fast-acting inhalers, called bronchodilators or rescue medicine, can quickly open swollen airways. You can also use them with inhaled corticosteroids. Depending on which kind your doctor prescribes, side effects can include dry mouth, heart palpitations, or nervousness.

Leukotrienes are chemicals in your immune system that make your asthma worse. Medicines called leukotriene modifiers, such as montelukast and zafirlukast, can help ease your symptoms. Rarely, some people get agitated and anxious when taking these meds. If this happens to you, tell your doctor.

Biologics are medicines that block the chemicals causing inflammation in your lungs. Unlike inhalers or pills, you get them as shots or by IV infusion. Drugs such as benralizumab and dupilumab are common examples. Rarely, some people could have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Your doctor may recommend bronchial thermoplasty if other treatments aren't controlling your symptoms. It's a procedure where a specialist uses thermal heat to reduce the smooth muscle in your airways to keep them from closing during an asthma attack. This option may require multiple sessions and is still being studied.