Medicines Used to Treat Asthma 

There are two main types of asthma medicines:

· Controllers  

· Relievers   

· Controllers work to help prevent swelling, inflammation, and extra mucous inside the airways.

· Relievers relax the muscles around the outside of the airways.  They are also called short-acting bronchodilators.   

· Most asthma medicines are inhaled into the lungs.  

· Not every child needs both types of asthma medicines.  

· Every child should have a Reliever. 

Things I  Should Know About My Asthma Medicine 

· How to use it 

· Why it is used 

· How it works 

· How often it should be used 

· How long it should be used for

· Problems if taken with other medicines 

· Possible side effects

· Cost    

Controller Medicine  

· Controllers, also called Preventers are the most important medicines to control asthma. 

· Controllers medicine can be a steriod or non-steriod medicines.    

· Controllers work slowly over a few days and must be used every day.  

· Controllers are started or increased at the first sign of a cold or worsening asthma.    

· Combination medicines contain both a Controller and a long-acting bronchodilator medicine..

Examples of Controller Medicines  

FloVent ^®      (fluticasone)                    

Pulmicort^®   (budesonide)   

QVAR^™         (beclomethasone)   

Alvesco^®       (ciclesonide)  

Singulair^®      (montelukast)

Combination Medicines

Advair^® (fluticasone & salmeterol*)                              

Symbicort^®  (budesonide & formoterol*)

Reliever  Medicine    

· Relievers do not work on the swelling inside of the airways. 

· They  relieve asthma symptoms (cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness). 

· Relievers work quickly and for a short period of time. 

· Relievers should help your asthma symptoms within 10 minutes.

· Relievers can be used 10-15 minutes before exercise once a day to prevent asthma symptoms.  

· If the Reliever medicine is needed for symptoms more than 3 times a week, asthma is NOT controlled.

· Symbicort contains formoterol and may also somtimes used as a Reliever.

Examples of Reliever Medicines    

Ventolin^®,

Novo-Salmol ^®,   

Apo-Salvent^®, Airomir^™  (salbutamol)    

Bricanyl^®     (terbutaline)

Oxeze^®         (formoterol) 

Asthma Medicines   

· Keep your Reliever medicine with you at all times.

· Keep track of how much medicine you have, when it expires, and when you need a refill.

· Each time you change medicine keep track of your asthma symptoms. Let  your doctor know how your asthma has been since starting the new medicine.

· If the Reliever medicine does not begin to work in 10 minutes go to the emergency room.

· If you need your Reliever medicine every four hours talk with your doctor. If needed more than every three hours go to the emergency room.

· If asthma symptoms occur more than three times in a week, you may need a Controller medicine to keep asthma in control. 

Asthma Allie Says:

"Learn how to correctly use your inhaler, ask your asthma educator, doctor or pharmacist to show you how".

The Children's Asthma Education Centre © 2010