Asthma Medicines

Medicines Used to Treat Asthma

There are two main types of asthma medicines:

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:

Controller Medicine

Controllers, also called Preventers are the most important medicines to control asthma.
Controllers medicine can be a steroid or non-steroid 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 & saleterol*)

Symbicort®

(budesonide & fomeroterol*)

* Long-acting Bronchodilator

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 sometimes 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"

untitled-3