Asthma Medications
		There are three types of asthma medicines: Preventive Symptom relieving Flare-up reversing Preventive medications (inhaled anti-inflammatory medications) How they work They decrease the sensitivity of the breathing tubes. They prevent asthma from starting by blocking inflammation. If there is no inflammation, the muscle won't be irritated and won't tighten up. The breathing tubes stay normal. Daily use of preventive medication can make your child feel like he/she does not have asthma! Examples Cromolyn (Intal®), nedocromil (Tilade®), and inhaled corticosteroids (Beclovent®, Vanceril®, Azmacort®, and Aerobid®). Use Daily. To be effective, preventive medicine must be used every day. These medicines take 1 to 2 weeks to start working, and up to 6 weeksto work best. Since they do not make your child feel better immediately, you may be tempted to stop using them. DON'T. Caution: Preventive medications do not provide rapid relief of asthma symptoms. Possible side effects Cromolyn (Intal®) and nedocromil (Tilade®) are not steroids and are very safe. Side effects are uncommon and those that occur are usually mild, including a slight cough and an unpleasant taste. The inhaled corticosteroids (Beclovent®, Vanceril®, Azmacort®, and Aerobid®) are safe when used in recommended doses. Side effects are uncommon, but can include: cough a hoarse voice yeast infection in the mouth (with white spots on the cheeks) You can decrease side effects by having your child use a spacer device and rinsing his/her mouth after taking the medicine. When to call your doctor If medication side effects bother your child. Return to top Symptom relieving medications (bronchodilators) How they work Bronchodilator medications relax the muscle bands around the breathing tubes. Then the air passages open up and breathing becomes easier. Examples Albuterol (Ventolin®, Proventil®), metaproterenol (Alupent®, Metaprel®), terbutaline (Brethaire®), and pirbuterol (Maxair®). Use Relieves asthma symptoms rapidly. Prevents exercise from triggering asthma symptoms. Caution: Symptom relieving (bronchodilator) medications do not reduce inflammation or swelling of the breathing tubes. If your child needs to use symptom relieving medicines often (twice a week or more), the underlying inflammation is not controlled. Speak to your doctor about getting the inflammation under control. In a moderate to severe asthma flare-up, it is important to treat the underlying inflammation in addition to relieving the asthma symptoms. See Flare-up Reversing Medications. Do not use inhaled epinephrine (Primatene Mist®). It is less effective and has more side effects than other symptom relieving medicines. Possible side effects rapid heart rate tremors nervousness headache These side effects decrease over time as your child's body gets used to the medicine. When to call your doctor If your child needs to use symptom relieving medicines more than twice a week. If your child is having a moderate to severe asthma flare-up. If your child is having a very fast or irregular heart rate, severe headache, nausea, or vomiting. If your child is still coughing, wheezing, or having difficulty breathing. Return to top Flare-up reversing medications (oral corticosteroids) How they work These medications reverse the inflammation that causes a moderate to severe asthma flare-up. The flare-up is reversed when the inflammation has stopped. Examples Prednisone and prednisolone (Prelone®, Pediapred®). These corticosteroids are not the same as the anabolic steroids misused by athletes. Use Oral corticosteroids are used for just 2 to 5 days to reverse a moderate to severe asthma flare-up. These are referred to as "short bursts" of corticosteroids. Caution: It can take several hours to several days for an oral corticosteroid to reverse an asthma flare-up. Use symptom relieving (bronchodilator) medication to help the acute asthma symptoms until the underlying inflammation is reversed. Possible side effects mood changes increased appetite weight gain These side effects go away after the medicine is stopped. Oral corticosteroids taken for more than 7 days can have more severe side effects. Do not take an oral corticosteroid for longer than 7 days unless directed by your doctor. When to call your doctor: If you believe your child has a moderate to severe asthma flare-up. If the asthma flare-up gets worse despite treatment. If the flare-up has not cleared up after 5 days of oral corticosteroids. If your child is exposed to or develops chicken pox within 3 weeks of being on oral steroid medication. Children on oral steroids may develop severe chicken pox. Return to top
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