Living with asthma—especially severe or uncontrolled asthma—often means managing daily uncertainty. Traditional asthma treatments, including inhaler therapy, oral medications, and corticosteroids, can help many people manage their asthma symptoms. But for some patients, these therapies fall short of providing consistent, long-term relief.
At Smart Infusion Therapy Services, we specialize in asthma infusion therapy, offering patients with moderate to severe asthma an advanced, more personalized treatment approach. By using biologic medications delivered via IV infusion, we can help patients reduce airway inflammation, prevent asthma attacks, and improve lung function, often when traditional treatments are no longer enough.
In this blog, we’ll explore the limitations of traditional asthma medications, how infusion therapy works, and who may benefit from this specialized treatment approach.
Limitations of Traditional Asthma Medications
Traditional asthma treatment plans usually start with inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta agonists, and oral corticosteroids for flare-ups. These medications work by reducing inflammation in the airways and relaxing the muscles that cause bronchial constriction. For many asthma patients, these treatments provide adequate symptom control.
However, for patients with severe or uncontrolled asthma, the benefits of traditional asthma medications may be limited by:
- Incomplete control of airway inflammation, leading to frequent asthma attacks
- Side effects from prolonged use of oral corticosteroids, such as high blood pressure, bone thinning, and weight gain
- Inconsistent symptom control despite adherence to asthma treatment plans
- Persistent immune system responses that cannot be fully managed by inhalers or oral medications
This gap in treatment can cause patients to experience decreased quality of life, ongoing airway inflammation, and an increased risk of hospitalization due to asthma exacerbations.
How Infusion Therapy Differs—and Why It’s Effective
Infusion therapy for asthma management represents a targeted, biologic treatment option that addresses the underlying causes of inflammation, not just the symptoms.
Biologic treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, are designed to target specific cells or pathways in the immune system responsible for triggering inflammation and asthma attacks. These treatments are typically administered as IV infusion or subcutaneous injection, depending on the specific medication.
Infusion therapy works by:
- Blocking key inflammatory pathways, such as those driven by immunoglobulin E (IgE) or eosinophilic white blood cells
- Reducing eosinophil counts in patients with eosinophilic asthma, decreasing the risk of airway remodeling and chronic inflammation
- Providing longer-lasting asthma control, often with infusions administered every 2 to 8 weeks
- Offering a steroid-sparing effect, allowing patients to reduce their reliance on oral steroids
This personalized treatment plan allows patients to experience fewer asthma attacks and improved lung function while minimizing the adverse events commonly seen with traditional medications.
Long-Term Benefits for Asthma Patients
Compared to traditional asthma medications, infusion therapy offers several key long-term benefits:
- Better asthma control: By reducing airway inflammation at a cellular level, biologic medications help prevent asthma symptoms from recurring.
- Improved lung function: Patients often experience improved breathing capacity, allowing them to engage in daily activities more comfortably.
- Reduced asthma attacks: Infusion therapy significantly lowers the risk of severe asthma attacks and emergency room visits.
- Steroid-sparing effect: Many patients can reduce their dependence on oral corticosteroids, avoiding their associated side effects.
- Addressing overlapping conditions: For patients with conditions like nasal polyps or atopic dermatitis, biologic therapies may provide additional relief by targeting systemic inflammation.
These benefits contribute to a higher quality of life and better long-term asthma management, especially for patients whose asthma remains uncontrolled with standard treatments.
Who May Be a Good Candidate for Infusion Therapy
Infusion therapy for asthma is not the right fit for every patient, but for certain individuals, it can provide significant improvements in asthma control and quality of life. You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have moderate to severe asthma that remains uncontrolled despite inhalers, oral corticosteroids, or other asthma medicines
- Show elevated eosinophil counts or high IgE levels, confirmed by blood tests or breathing tests
- Experience frequent asthma attacks, even while adhering to your prescribed asthma treatment plan
- Struggle with persistent asthma symptoms that interfere with daily life, work, or sleep
At Smart Infusion, our experienced team partners closely with your asthma specialist to determine if asthma infusion therapy is right for you. We provide a thorough evaluation process, helping ensure your treatment plan is tailored to your medical history, test results, and personal goals for asthma management.
Our dedicated staff also supports patients through the infusion process, providing compassionate, safe, and comfortable care every step of the way.
Find Relief with Smart Infusion Therapy Services in Eau Claire, WI
If your asthma remains uncontrolled despite traditional treatments, infusion therapy involves a more advanced, patient-centered option that targets the root cause of inflammation for better long-term control. At Smart Infusion, our experienced team is dedicated to helping you breathe easier with safe, comfortable IV infusion treatments for asthma.
To learn if asthma infusion therapy is right for you, call 608-690-7210 or schedule your consultation online.
