Asthma Medication Guide - Asthma Medicines
This asthma medication guide provides detailed information on asthma medicines and asthma prescriptions, from metered dose inhalers to quick-relief medicines to controller medicines to dry powder inhalers.
Types of Asthma Medicines
Asthma medicines are divided into either quick relief medicines or controller / preventive medicines. Within each of those categories are several subcategories, depending on how the medicine works.
Asthma medicines are divided into either quick relief medicines or controller / preventive medicines. Within each of those categories are several subcategories, depending on how the medicine works.
Quick Relief Asthma Medicines
Quick relief asthma medicines fall into 3 different categories, including anticholinergics, inhaled short-acting beta agonists, and systemic corticosteroids. Each quick relief medicine is designed to provide prompt relief of bronchoconstriction and resulting acute symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, and wheezing.
Quick relief asthma medicines fall into 3 different categories, including anticholinergics, inhaled short-acting beta agonists, and systemic corticosteroids. Each quick relief medicine is designed to provide prompt relief of bronchoconstriction and resulting acute symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, and wheezing.
Short Acting Beta Agonists - SABAs - Quick Relief Inhalers
Short-acting beta agonists, or SABAs for short, are bronchodilators used in quick-relief inhalers to treat acute asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. Short-acting beta agonists should not be used for regular daily asthma care.
Short-acting beta agonists, or SABAs for short, are bronchodilators used in quick-relief inhalers to treat acute asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. Short-acting beta agonists should not be used for regular daily asthma care.
Oral Steroids for Asthma Quick Relief
Oral steroids, or more correctly, oral systemic corticosteroids, are sometimes used as part of a quick-relief plan for moderate to severe asthma attacks. Oral steroids are not the preferred quick-relief asthma medicine, but can play an important role in preventing relapse.
Oral steroids, or more correctly, oral systemic corticosteroids, are sometimes used as part of a quick-relief plan for moderate to severe asthma attacks. Oral steroids are not the preferred quick-relief asthma medicine, but can play an important role in preventing relapse.
Asthma Controller Medicines
Asthma controller medicines help prevent asthma symptoms when taken every day as prescribed. These preventive asthma medicines include several different categories. Each works in unique ways, and some are more appropriate for certain levels of asthma severity.
Asthma controller medicines help prevent asthma symptoms when taken every day as prescribed. These preventive asthma medicines include several different categories. Each works in unique ways, and some are more appropriate for certain levels of asthma severity.
Inhaled Steroids - Best Asthma Treatment
Inhaled steroids, also known as inhaled corticosteroids or ICS for short, have become the mainstay of asthma treatment for persistent asthma in children and adults.
Inhaled steroids, also known as inhaled corticosteroids or ICS for short, have become the mainstay of asthma treatment for persistent asthma in children and adults.
Long Acting Beta Agonists - Bronchodilators
Long acting beta agonists, or LABAs for short, are asthma medicines that control, or prevent asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. These are bronchodilators whose effects last for 12 hours or more. Their recommended use is in combination with inhaled steroids.
Long acting beta agonists, or LABAs for short, are asthma medicines that control, or prevent asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. These are bronchodilators whose effects last for 12 hours or more. Their recommended use is in combination with inhaled steroids.
Leukotriene Modifiers - Alternate Asthma Medications
Leukotriene modifiers are asthma medications that are sometimes used in combination with or instead of inhaled steroids in people whose asthma is moderate to severe. They are sometimes called leukotriene antagonists.
Leukotriene modifiers are asthma medications that are sometimes used in combination with or instead of inhaled steroids in people whose asthma is moderate to severe. They are sometimes called leukotriene antagonists.
Combination Asthma Inhalers - Inhaled Steroids + Long-Acting Beta Agonists
Combination asthma inhalers are controller medicines that combine an inhaled steroid with a long-acting beta agonist in the same device. Combination inhalers are thought to be a more effective asthma treatment approach than taking each medication separately.
Combination asthma inhalers are controller medicines that combine an inhaled steroid with a long-acting beta agonist in the same device. Combination inhalers are thought to be a more effective asthma treatment approach than taking each medication separately.
Immunomodulators - Asthma Medications
Immunomodulators are a new class of asthma medications that are used as an add-on therapy in people who have severe persistent asthma with allergies that has not responded adequately to inhaled steroids. Immunomodulators are a type of antibody called monoclonal.
Immunomodulators are a new class of asthma medications that are used as an add-on therapy in people who have severe persistent asthma with allergies that has not responded adequately to inhaled steroids. Immunomodulators are a type of antibody called monoclonal.
Asthma Medication - Asthma Medication Side Effects, Risks, and Dangers
Asthma medication side effects, risks and dangers are sometimes a concern for people who have asthma, or for parents of children with asthma.
Asthma medication side effects, risks and dangers are sometimes a concern for people who have asthma, or for parents of children with asthma.
Black Box Warnings for Asthma Medications
Black box warnings for asthma medications are special warnings required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on medication packages. A number of asthma medications, including Xolair, Advair, salmeterol and formoterol, have had black box warnings added in recent years.
Black box warnings for asthma medications are special warnings required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on medication packages. A number of asthma medications, including Xolair, Advair, salmeterol and formoterol, have had black box warnings added in recent years.
Switching from a CFC Inhaler to an HFA Inhaler - What to Expect
HFA inhalers will soon replace all CFC inhalers. Find out why and what you can expect to be different -- or the same -- with the new inhalers.
HFA inhalers will soon replace all CFC inhalers. Find out why and what you can expect to be different -- or the same -- with the new inhalers.
Antihistamines - Allergy Medicine
Antihistamines are a type of allergy medicine used to treat nasal allergies and other types of allergies. Antihistamines decrease allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine, a substance in your body that is involved in the allergy reaction.
Antihistamines are a type of allergy medicine used to treat nasal allergies and other types of allergies. Antihistamines decrease allergy symptoms by blocking the effects of histamine, a substance in your body that is involved in the allergy reaction.
Side Effects of Steroid Treatments for Asthma
Because corticosteroids are used over the long term, side effects of this type of medicine can be a concern. Some side effects that may result from the use of this type of steroid include the follow...
Because corticosteroids are used over the long term, side effects of this type of medicine can be a concern. Some side effects that may result from the use of this type of steroid include the follow...
Medications A to Z
If you don't see a profile for your asthma medicine on this page, you may want to visit our partner site, Drugs A to Z, where you can find detailed information on a number of different medications, along with pictures of each.
If you don't see a profile for your asthma medicine on this page, you may want to visit our partner site, Drugs A to Z, where you can find detailed information on a number of different medications, along with pictures of each.
Video: How Do Inhalers Work?
People who have difficulty breathing because of illnesses that constrict airways often use inhalers to aid respiration. Learn about the different types of inhalers and how they work by watching this short video.
People who have difficulty breathing because of illnesses that constrict airways often use inhalers to aid respiration. Learn about the different types of inhalers and how they work by watching this short video.