Health Centres - Cromogen (discontinued in the UK - March 2007)
How does it work?
Cromogen inhaler and Cromogen easi-breathe inhaler contain the active ingredient sodium cromoglicate (previously spelt cromoglycate in the UK). Sodium cromoglicate is a type of anti-inflammatory medicine that is not a corticosteroid. It prevents tissues becoming inflamed when an allergic reaction occurs.
It is not fully understood how sodium cromoglicate prevents inflammation, but it is thought to work by preventing the release of inflammatory chemicals from cells called mast cells.
Mast cells are cells in the immune system that become sensitised in response to foreign particles, or allergens. When this happens, they release chemicals, including histamine, that go on to cause inflammation as part of the body’s allergic response.
Allergic inflammation in the lungs is one of the causes of asthma. It causes mucus production and narrows the airways, making it difficult to breathe. As sodium cromoglicate reduces the inflammation in the lungs, it makes it easier to breathe and helps prevent asthma attacks. It should be used regularly, even when you have no asthmatic symptoms, to reduce the inflammation in the lungs.
Sodium cromoglicate can also be useful for preventing shortness of breath caused by exercise. You should check with your doctor before using it for this purpose though, as if exercise brings on wheezing or shortness of breath it may mean that your asthma is getting worse or is not very well controlled. If so, your doctor may need to prescribe you another medicine.
Cromogen inhaler and easi-breathe inhaler are devices that are used to inhale the sodium cromoglicate. Inhaling the medicine allows it to act directly in the lungs where it is needed most. It also reduces the potential for side effects occurring in other parts of the body, as the amount absorbed into the blood through the lungs is lower than if it is taken by mouth.
What is it used for?
-
Asthma
Warning!
- You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as your asthma symptoms are likely to return.
- Inhalers may cause an unexpected increase in wheezing (bronchospasm) straight after using them. If this happens, stop using this medicine immediately and consult your doctor. Your doctor may stop treatment with this medicine and prescribe you an alternative. Alternatively the problem may be solved by using your reliever inhaler (eg salbutamol or terbutaline) a few minutes before each dose of this inhaler, in order to open the airways.
Not to be used in
- Known sensitivity or allergy to any ingredient
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- It is important that asthma is well controlled in pregnant women. Wherever possible, asthma medications should be taken by inhaler, as this minimises the amount of medicine that enters the bloodstream and crosses the placenta. Experience with this medicine during pregnancy suggests that it has no adverse effects on the developing foetus, however, it should still only be used with caution during pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, however no problems are anticipated if the medicine is used by breastfeeding mothers. The amount of medicine that passes into the breast milk after using an inhaler is negligable and probably too small to be harmful to the baby. However, as with all medicines, you should seek medical advice from your doctor before breastfeeding while using this medicine.
Label warnings
- Do not stop taking this medication except on your doctor's advice.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Cough
- Throat irritation
- Breathing difficulties due to a narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm)
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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