Drug-induced pulmonary disease

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Respiratory system

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Drug-induced pulmonary disease

Treatment consists mainly of discontinuing the offending drug immediately, and beginning supportive management of the symptoms. For instance, you may need inhaler therapy and oxygen until the drug-induced lung disease improves. Challenge tests (reintroducing the suspected medication to see if symptoms recur) are rarely performed. Steroid therapy such as prednisone, to quickly reverse the lung inflammation caused by the offending drug, is sometimes used.

Acute episodes usually resolve within 48- 72 hours after the medication has been discontinued, but chronic syndromes may take longer to resolve. Some drug-induced lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis may never resolve.

• Respiratory failure
• Diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis
• Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen)

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder occur.

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.

Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001.

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