Respiratory Drugs in Nigeria

Asthma in Nigeria is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and the drugs here matter more than their short list suggests. Salbutamol (Ventolin) is the blue rescue inhaler that opens airways in minutes during an attack; prednisolone is the steroid course that calms severe flare-ups. The pattern to avoid is surviving on the blue inhaler alone — needing it most days is the signature of uncontrolled asthma that deserves a preventer plan, not more rescue puffs.

Inhalers are also badly used more often than not: without the right technique (or a spacer for children), much of the dose ends up on the back of the throat instead of in the lungs. Any pharmacist can demonstrate in a minute — it is the cheapest asthma upgrade available. Wheezing that keeps waking you at night, or breathlessness that limits ordinary walking, has outgrown self-management.