controlling asthma. If you use this regularly and report the results to your physician, it helps the doctor evaluate how well the treatments are working, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American says.
Asthma medications
There are two main categories of medications in the asthma treatment arsenal; long-term (control medications), and quick-acting (rescue medications).
Long-term
Long-term medications are ones that are taken every day as a way to control asthma, the Mayo Clinic says. The goal of these medications is to prevent asthma attacks. These reduce airway inflammation and prevent the airways from narrowing.
It should be noted that while these daily long-term medications help control and ward off asthma attacks, quick-acting medications should be used during an acute asthma attack if one occurs.
Bronchodilators
Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA) relax the muscle bands around your airway (bronchi), making it easier to get air in and mucus out. These medications for asthma are taken twice a day through an inhaler and last up to 12 hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic. LABA medications should be given with a corticosteroid. (See combination medications below.)
The main side effects of LABA medications are nervous or shaky feelings, hyperactivity, overexcitement, increased heart rate, upset stomach and trouble sleeping.
- Salmeterol (Serevent)
- Formoterol (Foradil)
Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) also relax the muscle bands around your airway, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says. This asthma medication is used if the steroid/LABA combination doesn’t give enough relief. Do not use this medication if you have glaucoma or are at risk of urinary retention.
- Tiotropium bromide (Respimat)
Theophylline. While not used often, theophylline can be useful in relaxing the airways and preventing reactions to irritants. It is taken as a pill and used for mild asthma symptoms. You may need to have blood tests drawn on a regular basis to make sure the level of medication is correct, the Mayo Clinic says.
Side effects are the same as the other bronchodilators, but may also include chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, fainting, increase in urine volume or seizures.
- Theophylline (Theo-24, Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, and others)
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Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are steroids that reduce inflammation in the airways, according to the NHLBI. They may be taken as a