Asthma medication plays a key role in gaining good control of your asthma. Asthma is a chronic (lifelong) disease that involves inflammation of the airways superimposed with recurrent episodes of decreased airflow, mucus production, and cough. Choosing the proper asthma medication is crucial in avoiding asthma attacks and living an active life.

There are many safe, effective medicines that can help you control your asthma. You 'll need a doctor's prescription to get these medicines. You will also need special advice on when and how to use each kind of medicine.

Because asthma symptoms are variable - they can get worse or better, depending on many things - you need to know how to adjust your medicines depending on your symptoms. Your doctor can create a personalised asthma action plan for you. This written plan will explain how to adjust your medicine depending on your symptoms.

A number of medications exist for asthma, and many are used in combination with others. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best for you based on your age and the severity of your symptoms. In general, the main types of asthma medications are:

·Long-term-control medications. These are used on a regular basis to control chronic symptoms and prevent attacks.

·Quick-relief medications. Also called rescue medications, you use these as needed for rapid, short-term relief of symptoms during an asthma attack.

·Medications for allergy-induced asthma. These decrease your body's sensitivity to a particular allergen and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergens.

Asthma Controller Medicines

Asthma controller medicines help prevent asthma symptoms when taken every day as prescribed. These preventive asthma medicines include several different categories. Each works in unique ways, and some are more appropriate for certain levels of asthma severity.

INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS (Flovent, Azmacort)

-These medications are the most effective for controlling asthma on a long-term basis. Inhaled corticosteroids take up to seven days before they begin to work so they cannot be used with sudden asthma attacks. These medications are usually taken between two to four times a day.

THEOPHYLLINE (SloBid, Unidur)

-These medications are used on a long-term, regular basis. Theophylline can take several hours to work so it cannot be used to control sudden asthma attacks. These medications are usually taken once or twice each day.

Many people decide to stop taking their medications when their symptoms disappear. You should not stop taking your asthma medications without consulting your doctor. Most people with asthma always have some degree of inflammation and bronchoconstriction (narrowing) in their airways, even though they can't feel it. If you stop taking your medications completely, the cycle of inflammation and bronchoconstriction may start again and you could end up having a serious asthma attack.