Today there are many helpful medications to treat asthma. These include quick acting medications that provide immediate, short-term relief and maintenance medications that are taken daily to prevent the development of symptoms.
Quick acting medications are used when asthma symptoms are present. The most common quick acting medication for asthma is Albuterol. There are many brand names for Albuterol including ProAir, Proventil, and Ventolin. These medications provide quick relief during flares, often providing instant relief of asthma symptoms. These medications work by dilating and relaxing the airways in order to increase air flow and oxygenation. Although these medications provide quick relief, they are only effective for a few hours. If your child needs to use these medications frequently this is a sign that their asthma is not well controlled.
Maintenance medications are important for patients experiencing frequent symptoms of asthma. These medications reduce the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms as well as decrease the need for emergency medical care including sick visits, emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Even more importantly, they can improve the quality of life for your child and family. These medications are taken every day to prevent and lessen asthma symptoms. Some of these medicines are inhaled like Albuterol or come in pill form. Examples of maintenance medications may include Flovent, Pulmicort, Qvar, Asthmanex, and Singulair. These medications are designed to be taken even when your child is breathing well and not experiencing asthma symptoms, so that when your child’s asthma is triggered the symptoms are much less severe.