Depending on how severe your asthma is, your doctor may prescribe one or more types of asthma medicine:
- A reliever medicine relaxes the airway muscles and makes it easier to breathe when you have asthma symptoms. If you find you are using your reliever more than three times a week, see your doctor.
- A preventer medicine helps reduce inflammation in your airways. It should be taken every day, even when you have no symptoms.
- A symptom controller relaxes airway muscles for up to 12 hours, helping to reduce the symptoms of asthma. Symptom controllers are only used by people taking preventer medicines.
- A combination medication contains both a preventer and a symptom controller in one inhaler.
Visit your doctor regularly to review your overall asthma management plan, including how well your medicines are working.
Always take your asthma medicines as instructed by your doctor, even when you are well.
