<s>[INST] What Medications are Used for Asthma? [/INST] Not everyone with asthma takes the same medicine. Some medicines can be inhaled or breathed in. Others can be taken orally in the form of a pill. It is important to know what asthma medication a person has been prescribed and when to take it. Not all medications work in the same way, even if they come in the same kind of container.

There are two common types of asthma medicines: quick-relief medications and long-acting control medications.

Quick-Relief Medications control the symptoms of an asthma attack. They are also known as rescue medications or short acting beta2-antagonist (SABA). All people with asthma need quick-relief medicines to help relieve asthma symptoms that may flare up. Inhaled rescue medications are the first choice for quick-relief. These medicines act quickly to relax tight muscles around the airways when an attack occurs. This allows the airways to open so air can flow through them. If a person is using their quick-relief medicines more than usual, they should visit their health care provider.
Long-Acting Control Medications, also known as long-term control medicines, are taken regularly. This type of medication is taken even when a person is not having an asthma attack or has no symptoms. It can help a person with asthma have fewer and milder attacks. Most people who have asthma need to take long-term control medicines daily to help prevent symptoms. Long-term medicines reduce airway inflammation, which helps prevent symptoms from starting. These medicines don't give quick-relief from symptoms. A quick-relief medicine would still need to be used if a person is having an asthma attack.
Asthma medicines can have side effects, but most side effects are mild and soon go away. A health care provider can explain the side effects of asthma medicines.

If You are Taking Asthma Medications, You Need to Know:

The kind of medication you are taking
How you are supposed to take your medication
How the medication helps your asthma
The side effects of the medication Source: New York State Department of Health. Link: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/asthma/asthma_faqs.htm. Field: Lung Disease. Disease: Asthma </s>