[Drug-induced respiratory disorders]

Drugs induced respiratory disorders include bronchospasm, extrinsic alveolitis, and diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Bronchospasm may be due to the action of pharmacodynamic agents on autonomic control of bronchial tone (beta-blockers, beta-agonists...) or to a hypersensitivity reaction (penicillins, sulfonamides, anti-inflammatory compounds...). Extrinsic alveolitis usually follows administration of anti-infective medication but other drugs may be implicated. Prolonged use of a wide variety of drugs, particularly cytotoxic agents, is necessary to provoke the onset of a diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.