Medicines of Asthma

The most effective way of taking most asthma medicines is to inhale them so that they get straight into your lungs. There are two main inhaler medicines:

• Reliever inhalers (usually blue). They quickly relax the muscles surrounding your narrowed airways’, allowing them to open wider making it easier to breathe stright away.
• Preventer inhalers. Preventers control the swelling and inflammation in your airways, stopping them from being so sensitive and reducing the risk of severe attacks. The protective effect builds up over a period of time so if you have been prescribed one you should use it every day.

Although there is no cure for asthma, there are some excellent medicines available to help you to control your asthma so that is does not interfere with your daily life.

It is important that you take your asthma medicine properly and that your doctor or asthma nurse has explained how to use inhalers properly so that every dose you take gives you the most benefit.