If you've been diagnosed with asthma, your provider will work with you to develop a self-management plan for controlling your asthma on a daily basis, and an emergency action plan for stopping asthma attacks. These plans will tell you what medicines you should use and other things you should do to keep your asthma under control.
There are two main types of medicines for asthma. Quick-relief medicines, often called bronchodilators, are taken at the first signs of asthma symptoms. These medicines work to relax the muscles in your airways so that they can open, making it easier for you to breathe.
Quick-relief bronchodilators help to stop asthma attacks after they've started and can help prevent expected attacks, such as those caused by exercise. You'll usually feel the effects of these medicines within minutes, and those effects may last for up to four hours.
Many quick-relief medications are inhaled through a metered-dose inhaler, which is a pocket-sized device that you can easily learn to use when you feel asthma symptoms coming on.
The second main category of medication is long-term control medicines. These medications are anti-inflammatory, meaning that they help control airway inflammation. They are generally taken every day to reduce the occurrence of asthma attacks. The full effects of these medicines are felt after taking them for several weeks. People with persistent asthma need to take long-term control medicines, usually for an extended period of time.
These medicines are sold under a variety of brand names and they often come in different forms, including sprays, pills, powders, liquids and shots. Your provider will choose the medicine and form that will work best for you.
With proper treatment, you can expect to:
- Have fewer asthma attacks
- Use quick-relief medicines less often
- Participate in normal activities without having symptoms