A mast cell stabilizer, that prevents the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine from mast cells.
It prevents the release of mediators that would normally attract inflammatory cells and it stabilizes the inflammatory cells.
Pregnancy category US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Routes of administration: topical: oral, nasal spray, inhaled, eye drops.
It is mainly effective as a prophylaxis for allergic and exercise-induced asthma, not as a treatment for acute attacks.
Available in multiple forms:
as a nasal spray to treat allergic rhinitis.
in a nebulizer solution for aerosol administration to treat asthma.
as an inhaler for preventive management of asthma.
as eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis
in an oral form to treat mastocytosis, mast cell activation syndrome, dermatographic urticaria and ulcerative colitis.
Has a bioavailability of 1%, with a half-life 1.3 hours
Cromoglicic acid has been the non-corticosteroid treatment of choice in the treatment of asthma, for which it has largely been replaced by leukotriene receptor antagonists.
Cromoglicic acid requires administration four times daily, and does not provide additive benefit in combination with inhaled corticosteroids.
A mast cell stabilizer, that prevents the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine from mast cells.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists have largely replaced it as the non-corticosteroid treatment of choice in the treatment of asthma.
Requires administration four times daily in asthma, and does not provide additive benefit in combination with inhaled corticosteroids.
Effective as a prophylaxis for allergic and exercise induced asthma, not as a treatment for acute attacks.
Prevents the release of mediators that attract inflammatory cells and stabilizes the inflammatory cells.
Stabilizes mast cells, and inhibits chloride channels and thus may inhibit exaggerated neuronal reflexes triggered by stimulation of irritant receptors on sensory nerve endings.
Inhibits release of preformed cytokines from several type of inflammatory cells such as T cells, or eosinophils) in allergen-induced asthma.
May act by inhibiting calcium influx.