Asthma medications include those that you can buy over the counter (OTC), such as epinephrine, and drugs that doctors prescribe, such as the inhaled medication, albuterol.
Treatment aims
Asthma medication works to address symptoms and provide fast relief and long-term management.
Asthma is a chronic condition making breathing difficult. It’s an inflammatory disease in which your airways swell, and narrow, making it difficult for air to reach your lungs. Symptoms include coughing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath.
The treatment plan for asthma depends on your triggers and the severity of your symptoms.
Asthma medications
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asthma medications are classified in two ways:
- Quick-relief medications: These drugs immediately treat asthma symptoms to provide rapid relief and are usually inhaled. The drugs include bronchodilators, such as albuterol, and oral steroids. Other quick-relief asthma drugs include short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics.
- Long-term control medications: These medications aim to reduce inflammation and constriction in the airways. The drugs, which you take on a regular basis, include anti-inflammatory drugs, like fluticasone, and others including:
- corticosteroids (inhaled or oral)
- leukotriene modifiers
- long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs)
- theophylline
- cromolyn sodium and nedocromil
Depending on what triggers your asthma, medications to help relieve symptoms and manage the condition can also include:
- antibiotics and antivirals
- medications to treat severe asthma
- combination medications
- biologics
Doctors can prescribe asthma medications, or you can buy them over the counter. Asthma drugs come in several forms, such as oral tablets, injections, liquids, and inhalers.
You can take some of these medications through an inhaler or a nebulizer.
Albuterol
Albuterol is a type of bronchodilator known as a short-acting beta agonist. It relaxes the muscles around your airways, helping you breathe. It is inhalable to ensure the medication reaches your airways as quickly as possible.
Albuterol is available by prescription only. It’s sold under the brand names ProAir and Ventolin.
Side effects
Albuterol can cause some side effects, such as:
- nervousness
- coughing and chest tightness
- headache
- throat irritation
- excitability
- nasal irritation
- shaking hands or legs
- dizziness
Albuterol can also cause more serious side effects, like an increased heart rate and breathing difficulties. If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Montelukast sodium
Montelukast sodium is an anti-inflammatory drug. It is a leukotriene modifier. It is a long-term control asthma medication and is available by prescription only.
The drug helps manage asthma symptoms by blocking leukotrienes that cause air passages to constrict.
Montelukast sodium has the brand name Singulair and comes in tablet form.
Side effects
In 2020, the FDA issued a boxed warning that Singulair may cause serious side effects relating to mental health. These include:
- anxiety
- agitation
- irritability
- depression
- suicidal thoughts
Other side effects may include:
- muscle pain
- headache
- stomach pain
- coughing
- running nose
- fever
Mometasone and formoterol
Mometasone, a corticosteroid, and formoterol, a LABA, make up a combination asthma drug often sold under the brand name Dulera. It helps relax airway muscles when inhaled.
Doctors prescribe LABAs with corticosteroids because, when taken on their own, they can increase your risk of severe asthma episodes.
