Asthma medications vary by mode of delivery, mechanism of action and effectiveness. Find out what you need to know about common asthma medicines with our asthma drug profiles. Learn what asthma medicines are available, how they work, and what side effects you might expect.
[p]If you don't see what you take here, or if you want to get information on how your asthma medicine might interact with other medications you are taking, check out Drugs A to Z.
Advair Diskus is an inhaled asthma medication for adults and kids that contains two different asthma medications. It is an asthma controller medication that is used for people with moderate to severe asthma who have not achieved asthma control with an inhaled steroid alone.
Albuterol is a quick-relief asthma medicine used to lessen asthma symptoms after they have started. It is a type of medicine called a bronchodilator, and can be used for both adults and children. It should not be used to control asthma symptoms on a long-term basis.
Asmanex® Twisthaler, generic name mometasone furoate, is an inhaled steroid that is used to treat asthma.Asmanex blocks the action of both inflammatory cells and chemicals that are involved in the immune process connected with allergic asthma.
Flovent, generic name fluticasone propionate, is an inhaled steroid that is used to treat asthma. Inhaled steroids like Flovent are a type of asthma medicine called controller medicines that reduce inflammation in the airways.
Pulmicort is an asthma medication in the inhaled steroids category. It comes in two forms - pulmicort respules, used in nebulizers for infants and toddlers, and pulmicort flexhaler, used for older children and adults. Pulmicort ia a controller medication and cannot be used to treat acute asthma attacks.
Qvar, generic name beclamethasone dipropionate, is an inhaled steroid in a pressurized metered dose inhaler that is used to treat asthma. Inhaled steroids are a type of asthma medicine called controller medicines that reduce inflammation in the airways.
Singulair is a prescription asthma medicine, taken by mouth, that is used to prevent and control asthma symptoms in both adults and children. It may also be used for both indoor and outdoor allergies. Singulair is not an inhaled steroid, so it can be an alternative for people who are not getting adequate control with an inhaled steroid, or who want to avoid steroids for some reason.
Theophylline is part of a class of asthma medications called methylxanthines. Theophylline functions mainly as a muscle relaxant to open up constricted airways, and it may have mild anti-inflammatory qualities as well, although it's not known exactly how it works.
Symbicort is a combination asthma medication containing budesonide and formoterol, given in a dry powder inhaler to help with maintenance and prevention of asthma. This profile provides the facts you need to know about Symbicort for asthma.
Xolair (generic name omalizumab) is a controller medication used to treat allergic asthma. This medication acts on the body's immune system to decrease the allergic response to a trigger substance, such as pet dander, mites, dust or cockroach debris. Xolair is a new class of drugs known as immune modulators.
Xopenex, generic name levalbuterol, is a fast-acting quick-relief inhaler that is used to relieve acute asthma symptoms. Similar to Albuterol, this medication relaxes tight airways, relieving wheezing and shortness of breath.
