Asthma Medications
Asthma medication plays a key role in gaining good control of your asthma.
Asthma is a chronic (lifelong) disease that involves inflammation of the
airways superimposed with recurrent episodes of decreased airflow, mucus
production, and cough. Choosing the proper asthma medication is crucial in
avoiding asthma attacks and living an active life.
Treatment with asthma medication focuses on:
- Taking asthma medication that controls inflammation and prevents chronic
symptoms such as coughing or breathlessness at night, in the early morning, or
after exertion (long-term control medications)
- Providing asthma medication to treat asthma attacks when they occur
(quick-relief asthma medication)
- Avoiding asthma triggers
- Monitoring daily asthma symptoms in an asthma diary
- Monitoring peak flows with daily asthma tests
There are two general types of asthma medication which can give you
long-term control or quick relief of symptoms.
-
Anti-inflammatory drugs. This is the most important type of therapy
for most people with asthma because these asthma medications prevent asthma
attacks on an ongoing basis. Steroids, also called "corticosteroids,"
are an important type of anti-inflammatory medication for people suffering from
asthma. These asthma medications reduce swelling and mucus production in the
airways. As a result, airways are less sensitive and less likely to react to
triggers.
-
Bronchodilators. These asthma medications relieve the symptoms of
asthma by relaxing the muscle bands that tighten around the airways. This
action rapidly opens the airways, letting more air come in and out of the
lungs. As a result, breathing improves. Bronchodilators also help clear mucus
from the lungs. As the airways open, the mucus moves more freely and can be
coughed out more easily.
These asthma medications can be administered in different ways. Successful
treatment should allow you to live an active and normal life. If your asthma
symptoms are not in good control, you should contact your doctor for advice and
look at a different asthma medication that may work best for you.
NOTE: A newer asthma medication, called Xolair, works by inhibiting the
allergic reaction that often causes constriction of the airways. It works by
blocking proteins in the immune system from becoming activated, an underlying
cause of allergic asthma symptoms.
Long-Term Control Asthma Medications
Doctors and asthma specialists recognize that asthma has two main
components: airway inflammation and acute bronchoconstriction (constriction of
the airways). Research has shown that reducing and preventing further
inflammation is the key to preventing asthma attacks, hospitalizations, and
death from asthma.
Long-term control asthma medications are taken daily over an extended period
of time to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma (asthma that
causes symptoms more than twice a week and frequent attacks that affect
activity).
The most effective long-term control asthma medications are those that stop
airway inflammation (anti-inflammatory drugs), but there are others that are
often used along with anti-inflammatory drugs to enhance their effect.
Long-term control asthma medications include:
- Corticosteroids (The inhaled form is the anti-inflammatory drug of choice
for persistent asthma.)
- Mast cell stabilizers (anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Long acting beta-agonists (bronchodilators often used along with an
anti-inflammatory drug)
- Theophylline (a bronchodilator used along with an anti-inflammatory drug to
prevent nighttime symptoms)
- Leukotriene modifiers (an alternative to steroids and mast cell
stabilizers)
- Xolair (an injectable asthma medication used when inhaled steroids for
asthma failed to control asthma symptoms in people with moderate to severe
asthma who also have allergies)
Quick-Relief Asthma Medications
These asthma medications are used to provide prompt relief of asthma attack
symptoms (cough, chest tightness, and wheezing -- all signs of airway
bronchoconstriction).
The asthma drugs include:
- Short acting beta-agonists (bronchodilators that are the drug of choice to
relieve asthma attacks and prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms)
- Anticholinergics (bronchodilators used in addition to short-acting
beta-agonists when needed or as an alternative to these drugs when needed)
- Systemic corticosteroids (an anti-inflammatory drug used in an emergency to
get rapid control of the disease while initiating other treatments and to speed
recovery)
Next: How are inhalers, nebulizers, and pills used as asthma medicines? »
- theophylline, Theo-Dur, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theo-24, Theolair, Uniphyl, Slo-Phyllin -
- Nebulizer for Asthma - Learn how to use a portable asthma home nebulizer (breathing machine), assemble the mask (mouthpiece) and measure the medication for nebulization treatment.
- Asthma - Read about asthma signs and symptoms, statistics, medication, inhalers, and management, and triggers (or what causes an attack). Get the facts about asthma in children and exercise-induced asthma.
Latest Medical News