Conventional Medicine forAsthma There are several types of asthma medication available for treating asthma. Most people use a combination of long-term control as asthma...

There are several types of asthma medication available for treating asthma. Most people use a combination of long-term control as asthma medication and quick relief asthma medication. 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 medication are:

• Long-term-control asthma medications. These asthma medication are used regularly to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.
• Inhaled corticosteroids asthma medication. Known as an anti-inflammatory drug, they reduce inflammation in your airways and prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into your airway tissues. Side effects associated with inhaled corticosteroids can include hoarseness or loss of voice, oral yeast infections (thrush), and cough. Long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids may slightly increase the risk of skin thinning, bruising, osteoporosis, eye pressure and cataracts. In children, inhaled corticosteroids may slow growth.
• Long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) asthma medication. A bronchodilator, which open up constricted airways. Long-acting beta-2 agonists, such as salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) and formoterol (Foradil), last at least 12 hours. They're used to control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent nighttime symptoms. asthma medications such as Salmeterol or formoterol are used on a regular schedule along with inhaled corticosteroids and should not be used as the main treatment for asthma.Side effects are risk of severe asthma episodes and possibly death if a severe asthma episode occurs. If you use Advair Diskus, Foradil Aerolizer and Serevent Diskus and you have asthma attacks you'll need to talk with your doctor to determine the best course of action.
• Leukotriene modifiers asthma medication. These asthma medication reduce the production or block the action of leukotrienes - substances released by cells in your lungs during an asthma attack. Leukotrienes cause the lining of your airways to become inflamed, which in turn leads to wheezing, shortness of breath and mucus production. Leukotriene modifiers include montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate).
• Cromolyn and nedocromil asthma medication. Although they're not effective for everyone, daily use of inhaled cromolyn (Intal) or nedocromil (Tilade) may help prevent attacks of mild to moderate asthma. They are also be used as preventive asthma medication for asthma triggered by exercise.
• Theophylline asthma medication . This asthma medication are taken in pill form and is known to be helpful for relieving nighttime symptoms of asthma. But theophylline may cause side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, acid reflux, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and nervousness. If you're taking theophylline, get regular blood tests to make sure you're getting the correct dosage.
• Quick-relief asthma medications. You use these as needed for rapid, short-term relief of symptoms during an asthma attack.
• Short-acting beta-2 agonists asthma medication. These bronchodilators begin working within minutes and last four to six hours. But they can't keep symptoms from coming back. The most commonly used short-acting bronchodilator for asthma is albuterol.
• Ipratropium (Atrovent) asthma medication. Your doctor might prescribe this anticholinergic for the immediate relief of your asthma symptoms.
• Oral and intravenous corticosteroids for asthma attacks. These oral asthma medication known as corticosteroids - including prednisone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone and others - may be taken to treat acute asthma attacks or very severe asthma. They may take a few hours or a few days to be fully effective. Long-term use of these medications can cause serious side effects, including cataracts, loss of bone mineral (osteoporosis), muscle weakness, decreased resistance to infection, high blood pressure and thinning of the skin. Asthma attacks can be life-threatening and should be managed by a doctor.
• Asthma medication for allergy-induced asthma. These decrease your body's sensitivity to a particular allergen and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergens. immunotherapy.

Allergy-desensitization shots (immunotherapy) may help if you have allergic asthma that can't be easily controlled by avoiding triggers. Immunotherapy isn't for everyone. You're most likely to benefit if it's clear you have allergic asthma. In addition, immunotherapy carries the risk of an allergic reaction to the shot. Life-threatening reactions are rare but possible.

Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies. If you have allergies, your immune system produces allergy-causing IgE antibodies to attack substances that generally cause no harm, such as pollen, dust mites and pet dander. If you have allergic asthma that's difficult to control, omalizumab (Xolair) may reduce the number of asthma attacks you experience by blocking the action of these antibodies. That way your immune system isn't prompted to react and cause the inflammation that makes breathing difficult.