Asthma can be well controlled by avoiding or managing triggers for asthma and using asthma medicines correctly. Most asthma medicines are inhaled into the lungs, but sometimes tablets, syrups or injections must be used. The four main types of asthma medicines are called relievers, preventers, symptom controllers and combination inhalers.

Relievers open airways quickly by relaxing the muscles around air passages. Reliever inhaler devices are blue in color.
Relievers include: Airomir, Bricanyl, Asmol and Ventolin inhalers.
- – Can relieve asthma symptoms in a few minutes, with their effect lasting from 3 to 6 hours;
- – Are usually recommended for use ‘as needed’ for quick relief of asthma symptoms;
- – May be used before exercise, to prevent exercise-induced asthma;
- – Are available from a pharmacist without a prescription.
Some people may feel a little shaky and notice a fast heart beat for a short time after using a reliever inhaler.
Preventers reduce inflammation in the airways, dry up mucus and make airways less sensitive to asthma triggers. They can prevent asthma symptoms and lung damage if used regularly.
Preventers include: Corticosteroids (e.g., Alvesco, Pulmicort, Flixotide and Qvar inhalers), Cromolyns (e.g., Intal and Tilade inhalers) and Leukotriene antagonists (e.g., Singulair tablets).
- – Preventers must be taken regularly every day, even when you don’t have any symptoms;
- – May take several weeks to improve symptoms;
- – Will not relieve an asthma attack once it has started.
Some people need to use preventers for only a few weeks or months of the year, but other people need to use preventers all year round.
Symptom controllers relax muscles around the airways and when used regularly, in combination with a corticosteroid preventer, may improve symptom control. For treating asthma, a symptom controller must always be used with a corticosteroid preventer.
Symptom controllers include: Foradile, Oxis and Serevent inhalers).
Combination inhalers contain a corticosteroid preventer and a symptom controller in the same inhaler device. To prevent asthma symptoms, they must be used every day, even when you don’t have any symptoms.
Combination inhalers include: Seretide and Symbicort inhalers.
Some people can use the Symbicort combination inhaler as both a preventer and as a fast-acting reliever.