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Understanding your asthma medication
With 2 million Australians living with asthma one of the highest rates in the world we are a population accustomed to seeing asthmatics living around us, managing their asthma with a combination of drugs and informed lifestyle choices.
Alarmingly, a new health poll has recently highlighted that 85% of asthmatics, however, incorrectly judge that their asthma is under control. With one in five Australians with asthma finding themselves at the emergency department within the next year, it is clear that the vast majority of asthmatics don't manage their asthma properly. And the 400 Australian asthmatics who die each year prove that asthma management needs constant monitoring and should always be taken very seriously.
Asthma medications come in three forms:
These immediately relieve the symptoms of asthmas by relaxing the muscles around the airways. You should never rely on short-term relievers to manage your symptoms day-to-day, however relievers are the only medication that will work during an asthma attack. Relievers are inhalers and include Ventolin and Bricanyl.
These anti-inflammatory medications keep airways open at all times. Preventers work to reduce the swelling of the lining of the airways and to reduce the production of mucous. Preventers should be taken on a regular basis to manage asthma long-term. Preventers will not have any affect during an asthma attack. Preventers can be taken by tablet or inhaled and there are two types; steroidal, such as Pulmicort and Qvar, and non-steroidal preventers such as Tilade and Intal.
These medications are used by asthmatics who cannot control their symptoms with a reliever/preventer regime. Like preventer medication, symptom controllers are taken on a regular basis but use different drugs. They also work to reduce the amount of steroidal medication needed.
If you are experiencing symptoms of asthma and your reliever medication isn't working to ease the symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Reliever medications can only work if they can be inhaled into the lungs and if the lungs are too restricted due to an asthma attack, the reliever medication can't penetrate the lungs.
Oral steroidal medications
Oral steroidal preventer medications such as prednisone are prescribed for short-term relief of asthma symptoms which can't be controlled by relievers and inhaled preventers. Oral medications have an immediate relieving impact on asthma symptoms but a short course is only prescribed because of the side effects which include mood swings, increased appetitive and a jitteriness that causes insomnia.
Nebulisers are a machine that converts liquid forms of asthma medications (such as Ventolin) into a fine mist that is breathed in through a mask. Nebulisers are used to deliver reliever medications more efficiently and are often used in hospitals for that reason. Most asthmatics do not need to keep a nebuliser at home.
Asthma management warning signs:
- With correct management, you should be able to manage your asthma at home yourself, however, you should see your doctor immediately about your asthma if you:
- Wake at night, coughing, wheezing or struggling for breath
- Struggle to get through a normal day due to breathlessness
- Cannot attempt gentle exercise due to breathlessness
- Use reliever medication more than three times a week
- Are unsure how your medications work, or when you should take them
Related asthma articles:
This articles was written by Ella Walsh for Kidspot, Australia's best family health resource. Sources include Asthma Australia and Vic Govt's Better Health Channel.
Last revised: Tuesday, 21 September 2010
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.
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