Medications to Control Asthma

Long Acting Control Medications

These are medicines that are used every day to control asthma and prevent symptoms. You must take these medicines to prevent asthma symptoms, even when asthma is not a problem or seems better

Categories of long term medicines are:

• Cortiscosteriods(inhaled or systemic)
• Long acting beta 2 agonists
• Cromolyn / nedocronil
• Leukotriene modifiers: tablets
• Theophylline

Quick Acting Medications

Quick relief medicines or rescue medicines are used to treat the symptoms of asthma when asthma flares-up or attacks

Categories of quick acting medicines:

• Short acting beta 2 agonists
• Anticholinergics—Inhaled and systemic corticosteroids—tablet or liquid
• Systemic corticosteriods
• Metered Dose Inhalers
• Metered Dose Inhalers with Areo-chambers
  
• Advair Diskus

Long Acting Asthma Medications

Long Acting Beta 2—Agonists
Brand names	Generic Name
Serevent	salmetrol (inhaled)
Volumax	albuterol (extended release tablet)
Proventil Repetabs	albuterol (extended release tablet)
Xopenex	levalbuterol

Quick Acting Medications

Quick relief medicines or rescue medicines are used to treat the symptoms of asthma when asthma flares-up or attacks.

Short Acting Beta 2—Agonists—Inhaled
Brand Name	Generic Name
Airet	albuterol
Proventil	albuterol
Proventil HFA	abluterol
Ventolin	albuterol
Ventolin Rotacaps	albuterol
Maxair	pirbuterol
Brethaire	terbutaline

We are currently working toward development of all medication links. Until these are established, please use MedLine Plus to find your medication information. (Medications are listed in alphabetical order.)