Common Medicines used in Respiratory Care 

1. Corticosteroids (Steroids) 

Used to reduce airway inflammation in asthma, COPD, pneumonia, ARDS. 

Inhaled 
Beclometasone 
Budesonide 
Fluticasone 

Oral / IV 
Prednisolone (oral) 
Hydrocortisone (IV, acute/severe exacerbations) 
Dexamethasone (e.g. COVID-19 pneumonitis, airway oedema) 

2. Bronchodilators 

Used to relieve bronchospasm and improve airflow. 

Beta-2 Agonists:

Short-acting (SABA) 
Salbutamol (nebules, inhaler, IV in severe cases) 
Terbutaline 

Long-acting (LABA) 
Salmeterol 
Formoterol 
Indacaterol 

Antimuscarinics:

Short-acting (SAMA) 
Ipratropium bromide 

Long-acting (LAMA) 
Tiotropium 
Glycopyrronium 
Umeclidinium 
Aclidinium 

Combination inhalers 
Budesonide / Formoterol 
Fluticasone / Vilanterol 
Beclometasone / Formoterol / Glycopyrronium 

3. Sedation (Respiratory / Critical Care) 

Used for ventilated patients, NIV tolerance, or procedural sedation. 
Propofol 
Midazolam 
Dexmedetomidine 
Ketamine (useful when bronchodilation needed) 

4. Neuromuscular Blockade (Paralysis) 
Used during intubation or for ventilated patients with severe respiratory failure (e.g. ARDS). 

Rapid sequence induction 
Rocuronium 
Suxamethonium 

Ongoing paralysis 
Atracurium 

5. Antibiotics (Respiratory Infections) 

Choice guided by local trust policy, microbiology advice, CURB-65, and cultures. 

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) 
Amoxicillin 
Doxycycline 
Clarithromycin 

Severe CAP / hospital-acquired pneumonia 
Co-amoxiclav 
Piperacillin–tazobactam 
Ceftriaxone 
Levofloxacin 
 
Suspected MRSA / resistant organisms 
Vancomycin 
Linezolid 
Meropenem (severe sepsis) 

6. Analgesia (Pain & Dyspnoea Relief) 
Important for chest pain, coughing, ventilated patients. 
Opioids 
Morphine 
Fentanyl 
Oxycodone 
Non-opioids 
Paracetamol 
Ibuprofen (caution in renal disease/asthma) 
Adjuncts 
Ketamine (analgesic dose) 
Gabapentin (neuropathic pain) 

7. Other Common Respiratory-Related Drugs 

Montelukast (asthma) 
Theophylline / Aminophylline (limited use, monitored through blood tests; note if IV given a cardiac monitor should be in situ (refer to local administration policy)) 
Acetylcysteine (mucolytic) 
Nebulised saline (0.9% or hypertonic 0.45%)