While asthma can be debilitating and interfere with daily life, its symptoms can be easily managed using prescribed medication. Certain classes of medication can lower or avert airway swelling, while others can stop allergic triggers and their symptoms. Furthermore, medication can also relieve symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, making breathing easier. A person that has asthma should always carry their medication, especially while traveling. Read on to know more about treatment options for asthma.

• Quick-relief medication

This type of asthma medication contains short-acting beta-agonists, and are available as follows: Albuterol under brand names such as ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, and Ventolin HFA

Epinephrine under brand names such as EpiPen, Adrenalin, and Epinephrine Mist

Levalbuterol – under brand names like Xopenex and metaproterenol

Other short term relief medicine come in the form of oral corticosteroids like prednisone and methylprednisolone that reduce the inflammation in the airway. Some doctors also prescribe a combination of fast-relieving medication that has anticholinergics and short-acting beta-agonists.

• Inhaled and oral corticosteroids

This treatment option of asthma is one of the most effective long-term remedies. Beclomethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, fluticasone, and mometasone are names of the drugs prescribed under this class of medication. Inhaled corticosteroids go directly in the inflamed airways and effectively prevent excess mucus and fluid accumulation. Oral corticosteroid’s dose is ten times higher and used to treat severe asthma attacks; therefore, corticosteroids should be only taken as prescribed by the doctor.

• Bronchodilator inhalers

Asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest are easily treatable using bronchodilator inhalers. Quick-relief bronchodilator inhalers make breathing easy and prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB). Its effect lasts from 3 to 6 hours. Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers contain beta2-agonist medication like indacaterol, olodaterol, and salmeterol, lasts for 12 hours.

• Leukotriene modifiers

A chemical called leukotriene that develops in the immune system causes swelling and tightening of airways. Leukotriene modifiers contain montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton medication, which block the action of leukotriene. These are oral medication available in granules, chewable or tablet form. You should consult your doctor before taking this modifier as montelukast can cause side effects such as sleeping problems, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and suicidal thoughts.

• Biologics

Biologics remedy of asthma treats the source of the symptoms. They prey on cells or protein in your body that are the reason for the allergic inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Biologics are expensive, so they are usually prescribed if other medications do not work. You can get shots of infusion every 2 to 4 weeks. Biologics include benralizumab (Fazenda), dupilumab (Dupixent), mepolizumab (Nucala), omalizumab (Xolair), and reslizumab (Cinqair). A severe side effect of this treatment is anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. However, doctors are ready to administer epinephrine immediately after infusing this shot as a counter-allergic cure.