Some Medications Commonly Used to Treat Asthma
Medication | Some Side Effects | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
Anticholinergics* (inhaled) | |||
Ipratropium Tiotropium | Dry mouth Rapid heart rate | Usually used in combination with a beta-adrenergic medication | |
Short-acting beta-adrenergic medications (inhaled) | |||
Albuterol Levalbuterol | Increased heart rate Shakiness | For immediate relief of acute attack Albuterol also available in oral preparation | |
Long-acting beta-adrenergic medications (inhaled) | |||
Arformoterol Formoterol Salmeterol | Increased heart rate Shakiness | For ongoing treatment, not for acute relief Used together with other asthma medications | |
Ultra–long-acting beta-adrenergic medications (inhaled) | |||
Indacaterol Olodaterol Vilanterol | Runny nose and sneezing High blood pressure Cough Headache | Used together with other asthma medications Vilanterol available only in combination with fluticasone or umeclidinium | |
Steroids (inhaled)* | |||
Beclomethasone Budesonide Ciclesonide Flunisolide Fluticasone furoate Fluticasone propionate Mometasone | Fungal infection of the mouth (thrush) A change in the voice | Inhaled for prevention (long-term control) of asthma | |
Steroids (oral or injection)* | |||
Methylprednisolone Prednisolone Prednisone | Weight gain Elevated blood sugar levels and blood pressure Rarely, psychosis Osteoporosis Cataracts Skin thinning and easy bruising Insomnia | Used for acute asthma attacks and for asthma that cannot be controlled with inhaled therapy | |
Biologic medications (injection)* | |||
Benralizumab Dupilumab Mepolizumab Omalizumab Reslizumab Tezepelumab | Discomfort at the injection site Rarely, anaphylactic reactions | Used in people with severe asthma to decrease the need for oral steroids | |
Leukotriene modifiers (oral) | |||
Montelukast Zafirlukast Zileuton | Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis With zileuton, elevated liver enzymes | Used more for prevention (long-term control) than for treatment | |
Mast cell stabilizers (inhaled) | |||
Cromolyn Nedocromil | Coughing or wheezing | Useful for preventing attacks, often related to exercise, but not for treatment of an acute attack Nedocromil not available in the United States | |
Methylxanthine (oral) | |||
Theophylline | Increased heart rate Shakiness Stomach upset Seizures (if the blood level is high) Serious heartbeat irregularities (if the blood level is high) | Can be used for prevention and treatment Taken by mouth but can be given intravenously in a hospital | |
* Anticholinergics may also be called antimuscarinics or cholinergic antagonists. Steroids are sometimes called glucocorticods or corticosteroids. Immunomodulators are sometimes called biologic medications. | |||
