Asthma medicines  Asthma medication is chosen to fit the severity and pattern of the disease. There are two types of asthma medicine: one type prevents inflammation from getting out of control (anti-inflammatory medicines) and the other provides relief by opening up the airways (airway openers)
The most common types of anti-inflammatory medicines are:
Inhaled corticosteroids (for example budesonide, beclomethasone, flunisolide and fluticasone) are medicines that reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs to reduce asthma symptoms and to help prevent attacks. Side-effects include mild throat irritation, coughing and hoarseness.
Inhaled cromolyn and nedocromil: these medicines are most effective in treating asthma caused by allergies and exercise. Iit may take 4-6 weeks before the maximum benefit is seen. Common side-effects include an unpleasant taste, cough and mild wheezing.
Anti-leukotrienes (for example zafirkulast, montelukast and zileuton) are medicines that help to control asthma by blocking chemicals called leukotrienes, which prevent inflammation in the airways and lungs. They are usually taken as tablets. Common side-effects include headache and stomach upset.
You should take your airway opener when you first begin to feel symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Do not delay in taking your medicine as it could prevent you from having a bad asthma attack.
The most common types of airway openers are:
Inhaled Beta-2-agonists
These medicines relax muscles in the airways, making breathing easier Short-acting beta-2-agonists (for example albuterol, metaproterenol and terbutaline) are commonly used to treat acute, or sudden, symptoms of shortness of breath and for preventing exercise-induced bronchospasm. The effects last for around 4 to 6 hours. Side-effects include shakiness, headache and rapid heartbeat.
Long-acting beta-2-agonists (for example salmeterol). Although salmeterol works by opening up the airways, it cannot be used as a reliever medicine, as there is a delay before it starts working. People taking these medicines also need to take corticosteroids. Common side-effects include shakiness, rapid heartbeat and stomach upsets.
Rapid-and long-acting beta-2-agonists (for example formoterol). These medicines have a rapid onset of action (within 3 minutes) but are also long-acting (at least 12 hours) airway openers. Side-effects include headache, rapid heartbeat and shakiness.
Inhaled anticholinergic medicines (for example ipratropium bromide)
These medicines widen the airways by relaxing the airways muscle. Although ‘anticholinergics’ do not control the underlying inflammation commonly seen in asthma, they do help to prevent asthma attacks. Anticholinergics may be used in people who do not respond well to beta-agonists, or in the treatment of a severe asthma attack, when additional brochodilation is required. Side-effects include dry mouth, coughing and headache.
Combination medicines both prevent inflammation and open up the airways. As the level of your asthma may change over time, during more severe periods you may have to compensate by adding more anti-inflammatory and/or airway openers. With one type of combination inhaler you can increase and decrease the dose using a single inhaler,according to your doctors instructions, to match the changes in your asthma. These changes in dose make sure that you get the right level of medicine at the right time. Side-effects include mild throat irritation, coughing, hoarseness, rapid heartbeat and shakiness. |