Asthma Medications: Long Term Control Medications

There are a variety of asthma medications available today for people who suffer from asthma. Generally, these medications fall into one of three categories. The first category is long-term, or control, medications. The second category is short-acting, or rescue, medications. The third category includes medications for individuals whose asthma is primarily triggered by allergies. Many individuals with asthma are prescribed medications in a combination of these categories to both prevent asthma symptoms, and to quickly relieve symptoms of an attack when one occurs. This article will discuss the long-term type of medications.

Medications that are prescribed for the long-term control of asthma are usually intended to be taken daily. These are usually ongoing medications. The primary goal of these medications is to control asthma symptoms and reduce the risk of an asthma attack.

There are primarily two types of medications that fall in this first category. Those are corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs). Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory in nature. They may come in the form of an inhaler or a pill. When inhaled, the medication goes directly into the lungs and thus has few side effects overall. There are more side effect risks with corticosteroids taken orally.

Corticosteroids work by decreasing the inflammation of the bronchial airways and are the most effective type of medication for asthma. Flovent, Qvar, Advair Diskus, and Azmacort are some of the medications that fall into this category.

Another type of long-term medication is the long-acting beta-2 agonists. These are bronchodilators, and they dilate, or open up, the inflamed airways and help clear out the excess mucus which blocks the airways. These medications are effective for 12 hours or more. They help prevent symptoms which occur at night, and are often used in moderate to severe asthma. Salmeterol and formoterol are two medications in this category, and should never be used as the primary form of treatment. Rather, they should be used in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids.

Three other types of long-term control medications are leukotriene inhibitors, theophylline, cromolyn, and nedocromil. Singulair is an example of a leukotriene inhibitor, and works to decrease the amount or inhibit the effects of leukotrienes which your body produces during an asthma attack. Theophylline has a lot of side effects, but can be effective with nighttime symptoms. Cromolyn and nedocromil don't work for some people, but can reduce the likeliness of mild or moderate asthma episodes. They can also help decrease the risk of an exercise-induced asthma attack if taken an hour prior to exercise.

Long-term control asthma medications will not help in the event of an asthma attack, as they do not provide quick relief of symptoms. For those, most individuals with asthma are prescribed short-acting medications, sometimes referred to as rescue medications.