Asthma: Medicines for Teens and Adults

Medicines are an important part of treating asthma.

They can reduce symptoms and help prevent asthma attacks. They can reduce long-term damage to your lungs. And they can lower the chance that you will have to go to the hospital.

If you work with your doctor to use your medicines correctly, you will raise your chances of a healthy, active life.

Types of asthma medicines

Medicines used to treat asthma include:

  • Controller medicines. These prevent asthma attacks, stop problems before they happen, and reduce inflammation in your lungs. These things help you control your asthma.
  • Quick-relief medicines. These are used when you can't prevent symptoms and need to treat symptoms fast. They help relax the airways and allow you to breathe easier.
  • Oral or injected corticosteroids. These may be used to treat asthma attacks.

An inhaler is used to take most asthma medicines. You use this device to breathe in the medicine. The medicine goes straight into your airways and lungs.

There are different types of inhalers. They include metered-dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers. One type may work better for you than another.

Nebulizers are also used to get medicine to your airways and lungs.

You may have to take more than one medicine every day. It is very important to take your medicines the way your doctor tells you.

Try to take your medicines at the same time that you do something else every day, such as brushing your teeth. Put a sign in the bathroom or on the refrigerator to remind you. If you have problems, talk to your doctor.

If exercise makes your symptoms worse, you can use your quick-relief inhaler 10 minutes before you start. This may help prevent an attack.

Controller medicines

If you have symptoms often, you will likely need to take your controller medicine daily. Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred controller medicines. They include budesonide, fluticasone, and mometasone. Your controller medicine may also include a long-acting medicine that relaxes the airways to help you breathe.

Quick-relief medicines

Quick-relief medicines, such as beta2-agonists, help relax the airways and allow you to breathe easier. Albuterol is a quick-relief medicine that is often used. In some cases, a certain type of controller inhaler is used as a quick-relief medicine. Ask your doctor what to use for quick relief.

Oral or injected corticosteroids (systemic corticosteroids)

These medicines may be used to treat asthma attacks. The oral form is used much more than the injected form. They include methylprednisolone and prednisone.

Other medicines

There are other long-term medicines that are sometimes used alone or with other medicines. They include:

  • Anticholinergics (such as tiotropium). They treat asthma that's not well controlled.
  • Leukotriene pathway modifiers. Examples are montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton.
  • Long-acting beta2-agonists. They are always used with an inhaled corticosteroid as a combined single medicine. They include formoterol and salmeterol.

Other medicines may be given in some cases.

  • Magnesium sulfate may be used if asthma doesn't improve with standard treatment.
  • Anticholinergics (such as ipratropium) are sometimes used for severe asthma attacks.
  • Your doctor may recommend other medicines if you have severe allergic asthma or the symptoms aren't relieved by avoiding allergens or by taking standard medicines. Examples include mepolizumab and omalizumab.

Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.