asthma relief Rapid relief drugs for asthma

 Rapid relief drugs for asthma

 

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Quick relief medicines work quickly to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, panting, having trouble breathing or having an asthma attack. They are also called rescue drugs.

These medicines are called "bronchodilators" because they open (dilate) and help relax the muscles of the airways (bronchi).

You and your doctor can work out a plan for quick relief drugs that work for you. This plan will include the time you should take them and the amount you should take.

Plan in advance. Make sure you do not run out. Carry enough with you when you travel.

Short-acting beta-agonists
Short-acting beta-agonists are the most common quick-relief drugs to treat asthma attacks.

They can also be used right before exercise to help prevent asthma symptoms caused by physical activity. They work by relaxing the muscles of the airways and this allows you to breathe better during an attack.

Tell your doctor if you are using fast-relief medicines twice a week or more to control your asthma symptoms. Asthma may not be under control and your doctor may need to change the dose of daily control medications.

Some quick relief medications for asthma include:

Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA)
Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)
Metaproterenol
Terbutaline
Quick-relief medications for asthma can cause these side effects:

Anxiety.
Tremor (your hands or other parts of your body tremble).
Restlessness.
Headache.
Rapid and irregular heartbeat. Tell your doctor right away if you have this side effect.
Oral steroids
Your doctor may prescribe oral steroids when you have an asthma attack that does not go away. They are medicines that you take orally as pills, capsules or liquids.

Oral steroids are not quick relief medications, but they are often given for 7 to 14 days when the symptoms flare up.

Oral steroids include:

Prednisone
Prednisolone
Methylprednisolone
Alternative Names
Asthma - fast-relief drugs - short-acting beta-agonists; Asthma - fast-relief drugs - bronchodilators; Asthma - fast relief drugs - oral steroids; Asthma - rescue drugs; Bronchial asthma - rapid relief; Reactive disease of the respiratory tract - rapid relief; Exercise-induced asthma - rapid relief

References
Durrani SR, Busse WW. Management of asthma in adolescents and adults. In: Adkinson NF Jr, Bochner BS, Burks AW, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014: chap 55.

Sveum R, Bergstrom J, Brottman G, et al. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Diagnosis and management of asthma. Updated July 2012. www.icsi.org/_asset/rsjvnd/Asthma-Interactive0712.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2016.

Last revision 2/15/2016
English version reviewed by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Ogilvie Island, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.