List of Asthma Medicine

Asthma is an allergy and has a trigger that starts it. So the best way to avoid asthmatic attack is to know the triggers that cause the asthma. Try to avoid that. Along with this take proper diet that increases your immunity. Also in asthma treatment you will also have to take right asthma medicine to stop the asthmatic attack. There are many asthma medications that are life saving for some cases.
 
You can keep your asthma under control with long-term asthma medications. You doctor after knowing your triggers can explain you which asthma medicine or asthma medications in combination with other medicine will work for you. Asthma medications are intelligently picked up by the doctor by also keeping in mind your age, symptoms and side effect of medicine. Asthma medicine is changed from time to time so you must stay in touch with your doctor for any new asthma medications.

There are three categories of asthma medications for asthma treatment

1.    Long-term asthma control medication
2.    Quick-relief medication (rescue medication)
3.    Medication for allergy-induced asthma

Long Term asthma control medication is taken regularly to prevent chronic attacks and to control chronic symptoms. In this come the Inhaled corticosteroids, Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs), Leukotriene modifiers, Cromolyn, Nedocromil and Theophylline asthma medication. These asthma medicines are taken every day for a long time to control persistent asthma and do effective asthma treatment.

Inhaled corticosteroids:

These are anti inflammatory and reduce any inflammation in airway. These are considered free from any side effect but children using it can have a slightly slow growth. But its result in controlling asthma forces anyone to ignore this side effect.

Example: Fluticasone (Flovent), Beclomethasone (Qvar), Mometasone (Asmanex)

Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) are taken to control the moderate to severe asthma. These medicines are the part of bronchodilators, which dilates the airway and cut down inflammation.

Example: Salmeterol (Serevent Diskus), Formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer)

Leukotriene modifiers: By these asthma medication the leukotrienes action in blocking the airway is reduced in asthma treatment. Adults having mild persistent asthma and older children are given leukotriene with inhaled corticosteroids.

Example: Montelukast (Singulair), Zafirlukast (Accolate)

Quick relief medication is taken when you need quick relief from asthma attack but this gives short term relief from asthma. Quick relief medicine types are Short-acting beta-2 agonists such as albuterol, Ipratropium (Atrovent), Oral and intravenous corticosteroids (for serious asthma attacks). These medicines can be taken when the first symptom of asthma comes like coughing, sneezing, shortening of breath.
Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABAs)- These relax the muscles of lungs and helps them to open. Their effect is immediate and remains for about six hours. But anyone suffering from persistent asthma also needs to take long-term control asthma medicine. These asthma medications are available in tablets but inhaler is used to deliver SABAs for asthma treatment.

Example: Albuterol (AccuNeb, Proventil, Ventolin, others), Levalbuterol (Xopenex) , Pirbuterol (Maxair)

Ipratropium (Atrovent)- Emphysema or chronic bronchitis is treated by this short-acting bronchodilator for immediate relief.
Oral corticosteroids for serious asthma attacks Acute or severe asthma attacks are treated with these asthma medicines. Long-term use may lead to serious side effects even the lesser use can result in short-term side effects.

Examples: Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, Hydrocortisone

Medication for allergy-induced asthma needs to be taken regularly so that your sensitivity to a particular allergen can be reduced. Antihistamines, Decongestants and Immunotherapy injections are the asthma medication types that are included under this category.
Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies: Airborne allergens leading to asthma are controlled by asthma medication omalizumab (Xolair). Children under 12 are not recommended to treat with this asthma medicine.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy or allergy-desensitization shots are given when your asthma is not controlled just by avoiding triggers. First of all the causal of your allergy is identified through a skin test. Then small doses of allergens that causes the allergy are injected in your body. These injections are given once a week for couple of months. The period is increased from weeks to month means injections will be given once a month for couple of years. Then there will be a time when you will lose your sensitivity towards those allergens. So there are different tablets, injections and inhalers that lonely or in combination with other drugs can be taken as the asthma treatment. But always take your doctor's advice before taking any medicine.