In this Article

• What is asthma?
• What medications are used to treat asthma?
• How do over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for asthma work?
• What factors should be considered in choosing and using OTC epinephrine or ephedrine?
• What side effects and drug interactions are there with OTC asthma medicines?
• What are additional measures in the management of asthma?
• Asthma: Over The Counter Treatment Glossary
• Asthma: Over The Counter Treatment Index

What are additional measures in the management of asthma?

1. Patients should avoid known triggers of asthma attacks (for example, exercise or allergens).



2. Good control of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) helps to control asthma.



3. Approximately 2%-10% of patients with asthma must avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and Motrin since they may induce an episode of asthma.



4. All asthma patients should avoid beta-blocker drugs (Inderal, Tenormin, Visken, and Lopressor) because they may worsen asthma or precipitate an episode.



5. All patients with asthma should seek professional advise from their physicians on how to optimally manage their condition.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Over-The-Counter Products -
• 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.

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