Asthma medications can be placed into two main groups:

Relievers (bronchodilators) are medications which stop or relieve the symptoms of an asthma attack. Relievers help relax the muscle around the airways and make it easier to breathe. They include Ventolin, Berotec, Bricanyl, Atrovent, ProAir, MaxAir and CombiVent, come in a variety of different devices.

Preventers (anti-inflammatories) are medications which must be taken regularly over a longer period of time. They reduce swelling inside the airways and over time will reduce the number and severity of attacks.

Corticosteroids or steroids are a type of preventer medication. They work by reducing the swelling of the tissue in the airways. They may be inhaled or taken as a pill and must be taken regularly to get the best effect. They ARE NOT the same as anabolic steroids used illegally by some athletes to gain muscle mass.

Examples of corticosteroids include

• Flovent,
• Pulmicort,
• Beclovent,
• Becloforte,
• Inhalers or
• Prednisone Tablets.

Other less frequently used non-steroid preventers may also include medications such as

• Zaditen,
• Intal,
• Tilade,
• Theodur,
• Theolair,
• Uniphyl Choledyl.
• Serevent, Oxese,
• Singulair, or
• Accolate.

These medications must be taken regularly as well to stabilize your asthma and reduce asthma symptoms.