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You
or your child may need to use asthma medications.
- Anti-inflammatories
are a group of medications that keep the lining of the airways
from swelling. They are most often taken every day.
- Bronchodilators
are another type. They relax the muscles around the airways. They
might be used only before exercise, only when a flare-up occurs, or
daily. Be sure you know about asthma medica- tions. Know how they work,
how they’re taken, and what their possible side-effects are.
|
How They Work |
How They’re Taken |
Possible Side Effects |
| Anti-inflammatories
|
|
|
Codicosteroids
:
Protect the airways from irritants. Help prevent or reverse flare-ups.
( Not the same as the anabolic
steroids used by some body builders.) |
Most
often inhaled. Used daily. Need to rinse mouth with water
afterward. Also
come in tablets or syrup. These are taken in high doses for 3-7
days to reverse a flare-up. |
Inhaled:
Hoarseness,
headache, dry mouth. Yeast infection in mouth.
Swallowed: When
used as prescribed for a limited time, there are few side effects.
May have mood or appetite changes . |
Nonsteroids:
Protect the airways from irritants. Help prevent a flare-up during
exercise. |
Inhaled.
Must be used daily, as directed. |
Dry
throat, bad taste in mouth, nausea. These side effects are rare. |
| Bronchodilators
|
|
|
Short-acting
(fast-acting):
Open the airways quickly. Help stop a flare-up once it’s started.
Help prevent a flare-up during exercise. |
Most
often inhaled. May be prescribed for daily use or for use only
before exercise or only when a flare-up occurs. |
Shakiness,
nervousness, dizziness, faster heartbeat. Call health care provider
if you feel your child needs to take medication more often than
prescribed. |
| Long-acting
(and slow-acting):
Work longer than short-acting bronchodilators. May be used to
prevent nighttime flare-ups. |
May
be swallowed or inhaled. Should be used only as directed. |
Headache,
dizziness. Nausea, nervousness, trouble sleeping. |
* This table is not a complete list of available asthma medications and
does not imply endorsement of any medication type or brand. The list does
not contain every possible side effect, adverse reaction, precaution,
or interaction for these drugs. Only your doctor can recommend or prescribe
these medications.
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