Asthma Treatments

Medicines are usually needed for asthma, even if it's mild asthma. There are two types: controllers and relievers.

Controllers:

These are usually taken every day, even if you feel well. They help prevent asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.

Types of Controller Medicines:

1. Inhaled Steroids:
   • Daily inhalers that control the inflammation in the airways of your lungs.
   • This type of medicine is generally the most effective for controlling asthma long term.
   • Examples: Flovent, Pulmicort, Qvar.
   
2. Long-Acting Bronchodilators
   • These inhalers open up your lungs by relaxing the muscle that surrounds the airways.
   • They are similar to the blue inhalers, but they last longer - 12 hours.
   • Examples: Serevent, Oxeze.
   
   
3. 
   Leukotriene-Receptor Antagonists
   • Daily pills that help control inflammation in the airways
   • Examples: Singulair, Accolate.
   
   
4. Combination Medicines
   • These have two medicines in one inhaler: an inhaled steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.
   • They are used when inhaled steroids alone do not fully control your symptoms.
   • Examples: Advair (Flovent + Serevent), Symbicort (Pulmicort + Oxeze)
   

Relievers:

These are usually only taken when needed for quick relief or for an asthma attack. They help open up your lungs by relaxing the muscles that surround the airways.

Reliever Medicines:

• Sometimes also called "rescue" medicines or "quick relief" medicines, since they start working quickly (usually within a few minutes).
• This is the inhaler you use when you have an asthma attack.
• It is also used for less severe symptoms, or before you exercise.
• These medicines are not useful for long-term control of asthma since they do not control the inflammation in your lungs.
• If you need this medicine more than three times a week, see your doctor.
• Examples: Ventolin, Salbutamol, Bricanyl, Airomir, Oxeze.

Spacer/Holding Chamber:

• This is a plastic device that is used with pressurized inhalers (the kind that spray the medicine out) to better deliver medicine to your lungs.
• It makes it easier to coordinate inhaling the medicine from the inhaler.
• You get more medicine in your lungs and less in your mouth and throat.