Long acting beta2 agonists

Symbicort is a combination medication

In the management of asthma, long-term control of symptoms is vital. If not, patients will have to suffer frequent bouts of asthma attacks and may require frequent hospital admissions. At the same time, the quality of life among such patients will also diminish. Long acting beta2 agonists is one drug that can help relieve moderate to severe persistent asthma although it should not be used alone but only in combination with a corticosteroids.

Short acting Beta2 agonists

Ventolin inhalers are commonly used

Beta2 agonists are known to be the ‘relievers’ of acute asthma attacks and is the first choice when it comes to managing asthmatic attacks. It is also useful in managing intermittent asthma symptoms as well as asthma that may result following exercises. 

How does short-acting beta2 agonists work?

Theopylline and asthma

Theophylline is one of the groups of medications used for managing asthma symptoms and it is available as short-acting and long-acting forms. It acts on the smooth muscles surrounding the airways and will help them relax leading to a dilation of the bronchial lumen. Apart from the shortness of breath and chest tightness caused by asthma, theophylline is also useful in managing similar symptoms caused by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other lung diseases.

Effective Bronchodilators for asthma

Salbutamol is one of the short-acting bronchodilators

Bronchodilators as their name suggest are drugs, which are capable of dilating the air passages within the lungs. Thus, these medications are helpful in managing bronchial narrowing which will take place during an asthmatic attack or else to prevent such occurrences among susceptible individuals. However, not all bronchodilators are alike and according to their speed of action, there are two categories of bronchodilators, which are the short-acting ones, and the long-acting bronchodilators. 

Oral steroids for asthma

Oral steroids are used to treat severe asthma

Oral steroids such as prednisone are used to treat asthma and act much in the same way as inhaled corticosteroids. However, given its route and the strength of the dosing, oral prednisone will be absorbed systemically and will have a greater influence on the other body organs and systems than it would be with inhaled corticosteroids. Therefore, the use of prednisone and other oral steroids are limited to instances of acute and severe attacks of asthma and is given in short bursts no more than 2 weeks at a time.

Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids are highly useful to control asthma

The medications including the group inhaled corticosteroids that you have been prescribed to control your asthma may be different to the medications used by someone else. The reason being that the type and the frequency of the medications used will be determined by the doctors based on the patients’ age, sex, severity of the asthma symptoms, general wellbeing, control of asthma symptoms, compliance as well as on the potential for side effects. Doctors may have to change the dosage and review the treatment plan from time to time in order to arrive at the best possible combination.

Asthma medications explained

Asthma medications include many different varieties

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the lungs and the airways. It is characterized by the presence of decreased airflow from time to time, production of mucus and cough. Thus, the main aim of the medications used to control this disease should be to reduce the inflammation within the respiratory system and maintain the patency of the air passages without allowing them to narrow or be blocked with mucus from time to time. However, there isn’t a medication that can completely wipe off asthma yet, and it is essential that those who are suffering from asthma understand and utilize the most appropriate medications without missing too many doses throughout their lives.