Relief from Asthma Symptoms - What’s Available

Having lived with asthma for about 40 years, I’m always interested in researching new asthma medications to make my breathing easier. I’ve been on inhalers for the last 25 years, which I much prefer over pills.

If you lived with asthma in the 60s, perhaps you remember Marax. It tasted awful and it would take about half an hour to start working. Today the doctor has me on an inhaler that is a combination of something to stop an attack and something to prevent an attack. It is called Advair and you might want to ask your doctor about it.

One of the reasons it is important to visit your doctor every year is because of the new medications coming out. It’s good to know that researchers are constantly working to help us find relief from asthma symptoms.

While there are many medications available, they can all basically be placed into two categories. The first category comprises quick-relief medications or rescue medications. These medications are used to reduce the symptoms after they begin to appear. It’s important that you carry this type with you everywhere you go.

Another category of medication for asthma relief includes control medications, these help in precluding asthma symptoms from raising their heads. Your doctor might prescribe you use this every day whether you feel like you need it or not.

Both these treatment will be helpful in providing you or your child with asthma relief. They are generally given with a metered dose inhaler or a nebulizer.

Generally, younger children use an inhaler with a spacer to have a medication. A few examples of asthma medications are Levaluterol, Pirbuterol, Terbutaline and Atrovent.

Bronchodilators

It is the most common type of quick-relief asthma medication. It is also known as beta-agonist. It acts very fast to ease tightened muscles around the airways. Thus, airways get opened up and more air can flow, making it easier to breath.

Inhaled Long-Acting Beta Agonists

Bronchodilators or muscle relaxers are listed under this type of asthma medication. They do not prevent inflammation but instead help in preventing moderate and severe asthma. They make it possible for asthma sufferers to be able to sleep through the night with no asthma attacks. Usually these are taken along with inhaled corticosteroids.

Systemic Corticosteroids

This is a medical term that is used for quick-relief medications. These medications are taken either by mouth or via injection. This medication is generally taken in serious conditions to have fast control over asthma symptoms. One example of this kind of medication is Cortisone.

Leukotriene Modifiers

These medications are among the new medication available for asthma relief. They are also preventive or control medications. These can be taken either alone or along with inhaled steroids.

Inhaled Corticosteroids

It is the most reliable as well as most effective long-term control medication to have asthma relief. It controls inflammation and reduces the airway swelling which are responsible for making asthma attacks severe. Though they are steroids, they constitute a very low risk factor.

Theophylline

It is among the oldest types of medications used to have asthma relief. These preclude symptoms from flaring. They can be used alone to cure asthma in mild degree or along with inhaled steroids to cure severe forms of asthma.

It is essential that blood levels of theophylline must remain under constant check to prevent a toxic level from accumulating in the blood.

Naturally it is very important that a doctor prescribes any of these for you. These medications are dangerous if they are abused and taken in the wrong amounts. It is also very important that you keep all of these out of the reach of young children.