Asthma
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.
Symptoms
- Recurrent wheezing
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Chest tightness
- Symptoms that occur or worsen at night
- Symptoms that are triggered by cold air, exercise or exposure to allergens
Medicines:
- Bronchodilators are medicines that help to stop asthma attacks after they've started and can help prevent expected attacks, as from exercise more…
- Anti-inflammatories are medicines that help to control the airway inflammation and prevent asthma attacks from starting more
These are some of the medicines most commonly used by people with asthma:
Controller Medicines
- Inhaled corticosteroids (some brand names: AeroBid, Azmacort, Flovent, Pulmicort, Vanceril, etc.)
- Cromolyn (brand name:Intal)
- Nedocromil (brand name: Tilade)
- Anti-leukotrienes (some brand names: Accolate, Singulair, Zyflo)
- Theophylline (some brand names: Slo-bid, Theo-Dur, Theo-24, Uni-Dur)
- Serevent (inhaled long-acting beta2 agonist)
- Albuterol, Pirbuterol, Levalbuterol or Bitolterol (inhaled short-acting beta2 agonist)
- Atrovent (anticholinergic)
- Prednisone, prednisolone (oral steroids