Methcholine Challenge Test

[avvari]

Methacholine challenge Test
by avvari, Oct 06, 2010 05:37AM
I have been suffering with occassional brethlessness with uneasiness/slight pain in the area from the bottom of the rib cage to the bottom of throat
for the last six months and the lung x-ray and PFT were okay. The doctor
advised me to undergo Methacholine challenge test. I am somehow apprehensive of taking this test inview of the side effects. I wish to know if theMethacholine challenge test will have any side effects, immediatly or in the long run, and if I can safely take the test. I request for a reply ASAP.

[avvari]

Many many thanks for the useful information.
Regards

[bsmsl]

The person conducting the test should be well trained to deal with any severe or adverse affects for the test.  Check for their testing license before the test starts.  I have heard of one person being hospitalized because of the test.  My thinking is that either the tester was not watching carefully for symptoms of asthma attack or the patient was not being honest with the tester.  That is VERY rare.

The albuterol should stop the attack immediately should one start.  Most people are perfectly fine after the test.  This would be a good thing because then you can start asthma treatment and start recovering from the symptoms that are prompting the test and begin to feel better.

I don't think you have anything to worry about if your tester is well qualified.

[avvari]

Thanks for the reply. I still have some doubt. Will the asthma attack, a short term side effect, which might arise during the Methacholine Challenge Test,  have adverse impact on the body and settle down to be a long drawn struggle for me and is the Methacholine Challenge Test safe for me to undergo?  Will the doctor take precautions in this regard? Please reply.

[bsmsl]

The test is to try to induce an asthma attack.  People with asthma will have an attack.  People who don't have asthma shouldn't.  Once an asthma attack has started the tester should stop the test and start administering albuterol instead of the methylcholine.  The short term side effect would be an asthma attack.  I have not heard of any long term side effects.

Some doctors will test a patient on albuterol instead ordering the methylcholine test.  If the albuterol helps their symptoms, they conclude that the patient has asthma.

Take care.