Medications

Medications

There are many good medications that can help you keep your asthma well-controlled. There are two types of asthma medications - controllers and relievers.

Boy using spacer and inhaler

Controllers

Controller medications are usually used on a daily basis to control and prevent asthma symptoms.

Controller medications include: 

Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)

  • ICSs control asthma symptoms by reducing inflammation, swelling, and mucus in the airways.
  • Examples include Aermony®, Alvesco®, Arnuity®, Asthmanex®, Flovent®, Pulmicort®, Qvar™

Long-Acting Bronchodilators (LABD)

  • LABDs control asthma symptoms by relaxing the smooth muscles that surround the airways.
  • There are two kinds of LABDs. Each has a different way of relaxing the smooth muscles that surround the airways.:
    • Long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA)
    • Examples include Oxeze®, Serevent®
    • Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA)
    • Examples include Spiriva®

Combination Medications

  • These medications combine an ICS and LABA into one inhaler, or an ICS, LAMA, and LABA into one inhaler.
  • Examples of ICS/LABA include Advair®, Atectura®, Breo®, Symbicort®, Wixela™, Zenhale®
  • Examples of ICS/LAMA/LABA include Enerzair®, Trelegy™

Leukotriene Receptor Agonists (LTRA)

  • LTRAs are daily pills that help control inflammation in the airways.
  • Examples include Singulair®

Biologics 

  • Biologics are a type of asthma medication designed to prevent certain parts of the immune system from triggering inflammation and causing asthma symptoms.
  • Examples include Xolair®, Cinquair™, Fasenra®, Nucala™, Dupixent

Relievers

Reliever medications are taken as needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms. 
Reliever medicines include: 

Short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA) 

  • SABAs provide quick relief from asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscles that surround the airways.
  • Examples include Bricanyl®, salbutamol (e.g., Ventolin®) 

Budesonide/formoterol (bud/form)

  • Bud/form refers to a single inhaler of budesonide and formoterol. Bud/form is a combination of an ICS and LABA. In addition to being considered a controller medication, bud/form is considered a reliever medication will start working within minutes by relaxing the muscles that surround the airways. 
  • Examples include Symbicort® 

How Do I Use My Inhalers Properly?

Making sure you know how to take your medications is important and will help you best manage your asthma.  Did you know that up to 90% of people, including health professionals do not use inhalers correctly?

Watch these videos to learn how to use your inhaler properly, call our Lung Helpline, or speak to your pharmacist for more assistance.

For a full list of the various types of asthma inhalers, download the Asthma Medication Category Brochure here.