What common types of medications are used to control asthma?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:First, you'll want to try to avoid the things that trigger your attacks. Common triggers for asthma attacks include irritants like smoke, nervous impulses like stress, or an allergy.
Since prevention is not always possible or guaranteed, your doctor will also prescribed medications to open your airways during an attack.
One of the more common categories of medications are bronchodilators, which are inhaled medications that relax the muscles in your airway so the airways becomes larger, making room for more air to pass through-it's kind of like a new filter or cleaner for your exhaust line.
Another common prescription is the category of inhaled steroids. Steroids are the librarians of the respiratory system; they prevent symptoms from occurring by telling your airways to be quiet by reducing the inflammation in the area, and that can prevent the aging that inflammation causes (that's why it's important to take your medication as prescribed-you may feel well without drugs, but if you avoid the chronic inflammation, you avoid the aging of lung tissue associated with the inflammation as well).
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First, you'll want to try to avoid the things that trigger your attacks. Common triggers for asthma attacks include irritants like smoke, nervous impulses like stress, or an allergy. Since prevention is not always possible or guaranteed, your... More -
RealAge answered:Doctors prescribe long-term-control medications to help prevent asthma symptoms. Regularly using these medications also helps preserve lung function. Several classes of long-term-control medications are available.
- Corticosteroids decrease inflammation in the airways, reducing the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. Most people with asthma take inhaled corticosteroids, which are delivered with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Inhaled corticosteroids are considered much safer than oral steroids because they go directly into the lungs.
- Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) are used to relax muscles in your airways, which helps keep them open. LABAs should only be prescribed along with other long-term-control medications because using them alone could potentially make your symptoms worse.
- Leukotriene modifiers interfere with reactions in the body that cause asthma symptoms. These medications reduce swelling in the lungs and reduce airway tightening. They also help prevent mucus buildup. Generally, these medications are very safe, but rarely they can cause mood and behavior changes in some people.
- Other medications that are used less frequently for asthma include cromolyn, an inhaled medication that helps prevent inflammation and theophylline, an oral medication that relaxes and opens airways.
Even with long-term-control medication, asthma flare-ups may occur from time to time. So it's important to have a quick-relief medication on hand as well. Short-acting beta agonists (SABAs) are quick-relief medications that treat active symptoms. These inhaled medications help relax and open airways.
Doctors prescribe long-term-control medications to help prevent asthma symptoms. Regularly using these medications also helps preserve lung function. Several classes of long-term-control medications are available. Corticosteroids decrease... More -
Asthma medicines come in two types: quick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor to see if you need a different medicine. Long-term control medicines help you have fewer and milder attacks, but they don’t help you while you are having an asthma attack.
Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. Ask your doctor about the side effects of your medicines.
(The presence of the CDC logo and CDC content on this page should not be construed to imply endorsement by the U.S. government of any commercial products or services, or to replace the advice of a medical professional. The mark “CDC” is licensed under authority of the PHS.)Asthma medicines come in two types: quick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack. If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor to see if you need a different... More
