Medication Information
Asthma medications are commonly categorized into quick-relief medicines and long-term controllers. Keep a quick-relief medicine with you at all times. Take controller medicines, as prescribed, even when you are not having symptoms.
Learn the correct technique for using an inhaled medicine. Note that the technique is not necessarily the same for all inhalers so each patient has to master the inhalation technique(s) that apply.
Over-the-counter asthma inhalers are not recommended.
Oral asthma medications are available in the reliever and preventive categories.
Allergic rhinitis medicines include prescription corticosteroid nasal sprays that are used for long-term control rather than quick relief. An antihistamine and an anticholinergic nasal spray also are available by prescription. Mastering the correct technique for using nasal sprays keeps the medicine from running out of the nose or down the back of the throat.
Most non-drowsy oral antihistamines are available by prescription; some are available over-the-counter. Some are combined with a decongestant for treating a stuffy nose while antihistamine alone treats nasal itching, sneezing, and runny nose.
Even OTC medicines have precautions and should not be taken if certain medical conditions exist; some should not be taken with certain prescriptions, other OTC medications, or with alcohol. Your pharmacist is a good resource when choosing over-the-counter medicines to treat nasal and eye symptoms.
Limit use of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays so that rebound symptoms do not make your nasal condition worse. Products such as Afrin give quick relief, but should not be used chronically.
|
Asthma Medications |
| Commonly used asthma medications. All asthma medications are not listed. | |||
| Inhaled quick-actingbronchodilators beta2-agonist relaxes tight muscles around the airways |
albuterol | Proventil HFA Ventolin HFA albuterol HFA ProAir HFA |
Always carry a quick-acting bronchodilator. These medicines are for symptom relief. |
| levalbuterol | Xopenex® HFA | ||
| Inhaled Anticholinergicsmay also have a beta2-agonist (Combivent) | ipratropium + albuterol | Combivent | |
| ipratropium | Atrovent | ||
| tiotropium | Spiriva HandiHaler | ||
| Inhaled Antiallergycontrollers | cromolyn nedocromil |
Intal Tilade |
|
| Inhaled long-acting bronchodilatorsevery 12 hours | |||
| formoterol | Foradil Aerolizer | ||
| salmeterol | Serevent Diskus | never to be used for quick relief | |
| Oral long-acting bronchodilators | albuterol | VoSpire ER | every 12 hours |
| theophylline | |||
| Inhaled Corticosteroidsanti-inflammatory controllers used daily
|
beclomethasone | Qvar | Use, as prescribed, even if symptoms are not present.Rinse mouth after use.Do not swallow rinse water |
| budesonide | Flexihaler | ||
| flunisolide | Aerobid | ||
| fluticasone | Flovent | ||
| mometasone | Asmanex Twisthaler | ||
| triamcinolone | Azmacort (with spacer) | ||
| Inhaled Dual Controlcorticosteroid + long-acting bronchodilator |
fluticasone+ salmeterol |
Advair | |
| budesonide+ formoterol |
Symbicort Turbuhaler | ||
| Oral Leukotriene AntagonistAnti-leukotriene medicines modify one of the chemical mediators of asthma. These chemical mediators are called leukotrienes. | montelukast | Singulair | |
| zafirlukast | Accolate | ||
| zileuton | Zyflo | ||
| Nebulized MedicinesThe nebulizer creates a mist which is inhaled.These meds fall into various categories as listed above.
|
albuterol | albuterol | quick-acting bronchodilator |
| arformoterol | Brovana Inh Solution | long-acting bronchodilator | |
| budesonide | Pulmicort Respules | Corticosteroid Rinse mouth after use. Do not swallow rinse water. |
|
| ipratropium | Atrovent Inh Solution | anticholinergic | |
| ipratropium+ albuterol |
DuoNeb Solution | anticholinergic/bronchodilator | |
| levalbuterol | Xopenex | quick-acting bronchodilator | |
|
Allergic Rhinitis Medications |
| Commonly used allergic rhinitis medications. All are not listed. | |||
| Corticosteroid Nasal Spraysanti-inflammatory controller medicines | beclomethasone flunisolide fluticasone |
generics | Sniff gently.Do not blow nose for 15 minutes after using nasal spray.Alternate sides between each spray, if doing more than one spray in each nostril. |
| budesonide | Rhinocort AQUA | ||
| mometasone | Nasonex | ||
| triamcinolone | Nasacort AQ | ||
| Antihistamine Nasal Spray | azelastine | Astelin | |
| Anticholinergic Nasal Spray | ipratropium | Atrovent | |
| OTC Decongestant Nasal Spray | Afrin is an example. | This category gives quick relief. However, limit the use of OTC decongestant nasal sprays to several days in a row. Chronic use leads to a rebound effect that worsens symptoms. | |
| OTC Saline Nasal Spray | Saline nasal sprays can be used as needed. | ||
| Oral Antihistaminesnon-sedating or low-sedating category
|
desloratadine | Clarinex/Reditab Clarinex Syrup |
These are commonly prescribed oral antihistamines. You also can get combination antihistamine and decongestant by prescription. |
| fexofenadine | Tabs Allegra Suspension |
||
| levocetirizine | Xyzal Tabs | ||
| cetirizineloratadine | ZyrtecClaritin | These are now over-the-counter. | |