Asthma

Which quick relief inhalers are available?

Asthma occurs when the muscles in the airways contract thus preventing air flow from moving in and out of the lungs as it would normally do so.

Quick-relief inhalers work to counter muscle contraction by administering short-acting beta-2 agonists directly to the lungs. A quick reliever inhaler is normally used when you feel the symptoms of asthma coming on.

Inhalers commonly contain one of the following active ingredients:

• Salbutamol
• Terbutaline.

If you find you are using your reliever inhaler very frequently you should speak to your doctor as they may need to review your asthma management programme.

Which preventer inhalers are available?

Not everyone who suffers from asthma needs a preventer inhaler. Preventer inhalers are designed to be part of a daily management system for the the symptoms of asthma. You should use your preventer as instructed by your doctor in order to limit the risk of an asthma attack coming on. The daily dosing regime should be followed even if you feel fine.

The preventer inhaler is intended will help to desensitise your airways to the triggers which cause inflammation and swelling.

There are many different steroid-based medications available and they all do the same job. The most common are:

• Beclometasone - Asmabec, Beclazone, Becodisks, Clenil Modulite, Pulvinal Beclometasone and Qvar.
• Budesonide - Easyhaler Budesonide, Novolizer Budesonide and Pulmicort.
• Ciclesonide - Alvesco.
• Fluticasone - Flixotide.
• Mometasone - Asmanex Twisthaler.

What is it?

Ventolin (Salbutamol) is a medication, known as a short-acting beta 2 agonist, used to counter the narrowing of the airways caused by respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

How does it work?

Salbutamol works by relaxing the muscles in the airways. In doing so, the airways open up to let air in, making it easier to breathe.

The medication gets to work immediately as it is directly administered to the lungs using an inhaler device. Salbutamol helps to relieve the symptoms of mild or moderate asthma, and is used in hospital to treat acute asthma attacks. This medication can also be prescribed for regular use as part of your asthma management.

Main points to consider

If you think are having an acute asthma attack you must seek immediate emergency medical care.

• Take this medication, usually by inhalation, and usually as required with or without food.
• This medicine should not be used when pregnant or breast feeding.
• This medicine should not be taken with beta-blockers, such as atenolol, propranolol or timolol.
• Salbutamol can potentially cause a serious decrease in the levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia), which may result in adverse effects.

For further details please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

What is it?

Symbicort is an asthma treatment which contains two active ingredients, budesonide and formoterol fumarate. Both help to manage the symptoms of asthma by preventing the narrowing of the airways.

How does it work?

Budesonide is a corticosteroid, a type of medicine which works to decrease inflammation in the lungs. It does this by reducing the lungs allergic response to allergy triggers.

Formoterol is a long-acting beta 2 agonist or bronchodilator. It acts on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors helping the muscles in the airways to relax and open. It takes a few minutes for the effects of this medicine to kick in; however the treatment continues to work for up to 12 hours.

Main points to consider

If you think are having an acute asthma attack you must seek immediate emergency medical care.

• Symbicort can sometimes be used as both a preventer and reliever inhaler. Your doctor will discuss your dosing regimen when you first start using this medication. It is very important that you follow their instructions on how to use this treatment.
• If you have been prescribed Symbicort turbohaler as preventer and reliever therapy for asthma, you should make sure you carry it with you at all times so you can use it to relieve an asthma attack if needed. Otherwise you should make sure you carry your separate reliever inhaler with you.
• Inhaling corticosteroids can sometimes cause a fungal infection called in the mouth called oral thrush. If this occurs you may wish to speak to your doctor about changing your asthma medication.

For further details please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

What is it?

Serevent is a preventer medication which is used to manage the symptoms of asthma and to prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack occurring. Serevent evohalers, diskhalers and accuhalers all contain the active ingredient salmeterol, which is a type of medicine called a long-acting beta 2 agonist.

How does it work?

Salmeterol is a long-acting beta 2 agonist or bronchodilator. It acts on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors helping the muscles in the airways to relax and open. It takes a few minutes for the effects of this medicine to kick in; however the treatment continues to work for up to 12 hours.

Main points to consider

• By using Serevent regularly as instructed by your doctor, your symptoms are likely to improve. You should continue to take your treatment as advised even if you feel fine.
• Should your inhaler not work and asthma symptoms are not well managed by this drug, you should speak to your GP for further advice as they may need to prescribe another medication.
• It is important to have regular blood tests if your asthma is severe. Low oxygen levels due to bad asthma can lead to low levels of potassium in the blood.

For further details please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

What is it?

Seretide is a preventer medication which is used to manage the symptoms of asthma and to prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack occurring. Seretide accuhalers and evohalers contain two active ingredients, fluticasone propionate and salmeterol.

How does it work?

Fluticasone is a corticosteroid, a type of medicine which works to decrease inflammation in the lungs. It does this by reducing the lungs allergic response to allergy triggers.

Salmeterol is a long-acting beta 2 agonist or bronchodilator. It acts on receptors in the lungs called beta 2 receptors helping the muscles in the airways to relax and open. It takes a few minutes for the effects of this medicine to kick in; however the treatment continues to work for up to 12 hours.

Main points to consider

• This medicine is known as a preventer and it should be taken regularly to prevent asthma attacks. It should not be used to relieve an asthma attack, as it will not work for this purpose.
• Consult your doctor if you need to use your reliever more frequently than normal, or if it becomes less effective at treating attacks, as this may indicate that your asthma is getting worse and your doctor may need to prescribe you another medicine.
• You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as your asthma symptoms are likely to return.

For further details please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

What is it?

Flixotide is a preventer medication which is used to manage the symptoms of asthma and to prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack occurring. Flixotide evohaler, accuhaler, diskhaler and nebules all contain the active ingredient fluticasone propionate, which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid.

How does it work?

Flixotide is a corticosteroid, a type of medicine which works to decrease inflammation in the lungs. It does this by reducing the lungs allergic response to allergy triggers.

Main points to consider

• Inhaled corticosteroids can sometimes cause a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush. To minimise the chances of this you should rinse your mouth with water or clean your teeth after inhaling each dose. Using a spacer device can also help avoid this problem.
• This medicine is known as a preventer and it should be taken regularly to prevent asthma attacks. It should not be used to relieve an asthma attack, as it will not work for this purpose.
• You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as your asthma symptoms are likely to return.

What is it?

Qvar is an asthma preventer which is used to manage the symptoms of asthma and to prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack occurring. Qvar inhaler and Qvar easi-breathe inhaler all contain the active ingredient beclometasone dipropionate, which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid.

How does it work?

Qvar contains a corticosteroid, a type of medicine which works to decrease inflammation in the lungs. It does this by reducing the lungs allergic response to allergy triggers.

Main points to consider

• Inhaled corticosteroids can sometimes cause a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush. To minimise the chances of this you should rinse your mouth with water or clean your teeth after inhaling each dose. Using a spacer device can also help avoid this problem.
• This medicine is known as a preventer and it should be taken regularly to prevent asthma attacks. It should not be used to relieve an asthma attack, as it will not work for this purpose.
• You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as your asthma symptoms are likely to return.

You may experience one or more of the following symptoms of asthma:

Feeling out of breath: this occurs when air cannot flow in and out of the lungs leaving you gasping for breath.
Tight chest: many asthma sufferers say they feel as though a belt is being tightened around their chest.
Wheezing: this is the whistling sound you make when you struggle to breathe through your narrowing air passages.
Coughing: this is more common in children than in adults.

Acquiring asthma

Genes play a key role here as many people who develop asthma have a parent who also sufferers from the condition. It is believed that even though you may be predisposed to asthma, it will only manifest itself if exposed to a triggering factor.

In some people asthma can follow exposure to a virus or infection of the airways.

Asthma triggers

Some external factors can also increase your likelihood of developing the condition. For example, increased exposure to pollution and cigarette smoke can lead to you developing asthma.

Common triggers of asthma include: physical exertion, cold, smoke, perfume, pollution, pollen, dust, fur and mould.

Asthma UK