Asthma Medications

Today, there are many effective medicines to treat asthma. Most people with asthma need two kinds.

Quick-Relief (Rescue) Medicine

This is taken at the first sign of any asthma symptoms for fast relief.

• Examples include: ProAir, Proventil, and Ventolin

Your doctor also may recommend that you use this medicine before exercise.

Rescue medicines can temporarily stop asthma symptoms, but they do not control airway swelling that causes the symptoms. If you find that you need your quick-relief medicine to treat asthma symptoms more than twice a week, or more than two nights a month, then your asthma is not well controlled. Be sure to tell you doctor.

Long-Term Controller Medicine

This is taken every day to prevent symptoms and attacks. This should be taken everyday even if you do not have asthma signs to keep swelling down and your asthma under control. Controller medications may be inhaled or a pill that is taken orally.

• Examples include: QVAR, Flovent, Advair, Pulmocort, and Singulair (oral pill)

If you are having difficulty getting or taking your asthma medications, please contact your doctor or the Sharp Community Medical Group Disease Management Team at 858-499-3040.

Last Physician Review - January 13, 2015