BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAsthma - quick-relief drugs Asthma - quick-relief drugs - short-acting beta-agonists; Asthma - quick-relief drugs - bronchodilators; Asthma - quick-relief drugs - oral steroids; Asthma - rescue drugs; Bronchial asthma - quick relief; Reactive airway disease - quick relief; Exercise-induced asthma - quick reliefAsthma quick-relief medicines work fast to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. They are also called rescue medicines.AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Many of these medicines are called "bronchodilators" because they open (dilate) and help relax the muscles of your airways (bronchi).You and your health care provider can make a plan for the quick-relief medicines that work for you. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.Plan ahead. Make sure you do not run out. Bring enough medicine with you when you travel.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersShort-acting Beta-agonistsShort-acting beta-agonists are the most common quick-relief medicines for treating asthma attacks and are considered to be bronchodilators.They can be used just before exercising to help prevent asthma symptoms caused by exercise. They work by relaxing the muscles of your airways, and this lets you breathe better during an attack.Tell your provider if you are using quick-relief medicines twice a week or more to control your asthma symptoms. Your asthma may not be under control, and your provider may need to change your dose of daily control medicines.Some quick-relief asthma medicines include:Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA) Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) Metaproterenol TerbutalineShort-acting beta-agonists may cause these side effects: Anxiety. Fast and irregular heartbeats. Call your provider right away if you have this side effect. Irregular heartbeatsAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Headache. HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Restlessness. Tremor (your hand or another part of your body may shake).TremorA tremor is a type of shaking movement. A tremor is most often noticed in the hands and arms. It may affect any body part, including the head, tong...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersOral SteroidsYour provider might prescribe oral steroids when you have an asthma attack that is not going away. These are medicines that you take by mouth as pills, capsules, or liquids.Oral steroids are not quick-relief medicines but are often given for 7 to 14 days when your symptoms flare-up.Oral steroids include:Methylprednisolone Prednisone PrednisoloneOpen ReferencesReferencesDrazen JM, Bel EH. Asthma. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 75.Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Asthma. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuch AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 78.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Asthma Management Guidelines: Focused Updates 2020. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma-management-guidelines-2020-updates. Updated February 4, 2021. Accessed February 8, 2024.O'Byrne PM, Satia I. Inhaled ß2 - agonists. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 93.Pollart SM, DeGeorge KC, Kolb A. Asthma in children. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2024. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:1317-1324.Vishwanathan RK, Busse WW. Management of asthma in adolescents and adults. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 52.AllVideoImagesTogAsthma quick-relief drugs - illustration Asthma quick-relief drugs work fast to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. Contact your health care provider if you need them every day. Asthma quick-relief drugsillustrationLungs - illustration The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.LungsillustrationAsthmatic bronchiole and normal bronchiole - illustration Asthma is a disease in which inflammation of the airways causes airflow into and out of the lungs to be restricted. When an asthma attack occurs, mucus production is increased, muscles of the bronchial tree become tight, and the lining of the air passages swells, reducing airflow and producing the characteristic wheezing sound. Asthmatic bronchiole and normal bronchioleillustrationAsthma quick-relief drugs - illustration Asthma quick-relief drugs work fast to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. Contact your health care provider if you need them every day. Asthma quick-relief drugsillustrationLungs - illustration The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.LungsillustrationAsthmatic bronchiole and normal bronchiole - illustration Asthma is a disease in which inflammation of the airways causes airflow into and out of the lungs to be restricted. When an asthma attack occurs, mucus production is increased, muscles of the bronchial tree become tight, and the lining of the air passages swells, reducing airflow and producing the characteristic wheezing sound. Asthmatic bronchiole and normal bronchioleillustrationA Closer Look Asthma(Alt. Medicine)Asthma in children and adolescents - InDepth(In-Depth)Asthma in adults - InDepth(In-Depth)Talking to your MD Asthma in adults - what to ask the doctorSelf Care Asthma - quick-relief drugs COPD - quick-relief drugsAsthma and schoolExercising and asthma at school Exercise-induced asthmaHow to use your peak flow meterHow to use an inhaler - with spacerRelated Information Asthma(Condition)Allergies(Condition)Asthma in children(Condition)Asthma and allergy resources(Special Topic)Wheezing(Symptoms)Asthma - child - discharge(Discharge)Asthma - control drugs(Self-Care)Bronchiolitis - discharge(Discharge)Exercise-induced asthma(Self-Care)Exercising and asthma at school (Self-Care)How to use your peak flow meter(Self-Care)Make peak flow a habit(Self-Care)Signs of an asthma attack(Self-Care)Stay away from asthma triggers(Self-Care)How to use a nebulizer(Self-Care)Asthma in adults - InDepth(In-Depth)Asthma in children and adolescents - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/3/2024 Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Asthma - quick-relief drugs Asthma - quick-relief drugs - short-acting beta-agonists; Asthma - quick-relief drugs - bronchodilators; Asthma - quick-relief drugs - oral steroids; Asthma - rescue drugs; Bronchial asthma - quick relief; Reactive airway disease - quick relief; Exercise-induced asthma - quick reliefAsthma quick-relief medicines work fast to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. They are also called rescue medicines.AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Many of these medicines are called "bronchodilators" because they open (dilate) and help relax the muscles of your airways (bronchi).You and your health care provider can make a plan for the quick-relief medicines that work for you. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.Plan ahead. Make sure you do not run out. Bring enough medicine with you when you travel.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersShort-acting Beta-agonistsShort-acting beta-agonists are the most common quick-relief medicines for treating asthma attacks and are considered to be bronchodilators.They can be used just before exercising to help prevent asthma symptoms caused by exercise. They work by relaxing the muscles of your airways, and this lets you breathe better during an attack.Tell your provider if you are using quick-relief medicines twice a week or more to control your asthma symptoms. Your asthma may not be under control, and your provider may need to change your dose of daily control medicines.Some quick-relief asthma medicines include:Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA) Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA) Metaproterenol TerbutalineShort-acting beta-agonists may cause these side effects: Anxiety. Fast and irregular heartbeats. Call your provider right away if you have this side effect. Irregular heartbeatsAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Headache. HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Restlessness. Tremor (your hand or another part of your body may shake).TremorA tremor is a type of shaking movement. A tremor is most often noticed in the hands and arms. It may affect any body part, including the head, tong...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersOral SteroidsYour provider might prescribe oral steroids when you have an asthma attack that is not going away. These are medicines that you take by mouth as pills, capsules, or liquids.Oral steroids are not quick-relief medicines but are often given for 7 to 14 days when your symptoms flare-up.Oral steroids include:Methylprednisolone Prednisone PrednisoloneOpen ReferencesReferencesDrazen JM, Bel EH. Asthma. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 75.Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuh AM. Asthma. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, Schuch AM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 78.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Asthma Management Guidelines: Focused Updates 2020. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma-management-guidelines-2020-updates. Updated February 4, 2021. Accessed February 8, 2024.O'Byrne PM, Satia I. Inhaled ß2 - agonists. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 93.Pollart SM, DeGeorge KC, Kolb A. Asthma in children. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2024. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:1317-1324.Vishwanathan RK, Busse WW. Management of asthma in adolescents and adults. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 52.
