Which medication would you administer to counter acute bronchospasm in asthma?

• A. Epinephrine
• B. Antibiotic
• C. Bronchodilator
• D. Antihistamine

Answer: (C)

Acute bronchospasm happens when the airway smooth muscle tightens, narrowing the airways. The fastest way to reverse that is with a bronchodilator, which relaxes the smooth muscle and widens the airways to restore airflow. Inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonists provide rapid relief by stimulating receptors in the bronchial smooth muscle, increasing cAMP, and causing quick relaxation—usually within minutes. While epinephrine can also dilate the bronchi, it’s typically used in more severe or life-threatening situations and has broader systemic effects. Antibiotics won’t help with bronchospasm, and antihistamines don’t reverse acute airway constriction. So the best choice to counter acute bronchospasm is a bronchodilator.