Short-Acting Bronchodilators

• Short-acting bronchodilators (beta2agonists) are used to open the airways and relieve the tightness and shortness of breath that asthma causes. Because they open the airways, they also relieve the cough from asthma. Their chemical names are albuterol, levalbuterol, terbutaline and pirbuterol. Your doctor may direct you to use them when you have a cough from asthma. If you need to use your inhaler more than two times each week, you should tell your doctor because you may need to use an anti-inflammatory inhaler as well.
  
  

Long-Acting Bronchodilators

• If a short-acting bronchodilator is not providing you enough relief, your doctor may prescribe one of the long-acting bronchodilators such as salmeterol or formoterol. These bronchodilators are used in conjunction with an inhaled anti-inflammatory medicine and used daily rather than on an as-needed basis like with short-acting bronchodilators.
  
  

Inhaled Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications

• Your doctor may also prescribe one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as cromolyn or nedocromil. These inhaled medicines reduce inflammation just as the inhaled corticosteroids and can prevent the symptoms of cough-variant asthma. They are safe, but are not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
  
  

Inhalers

• There are a number of ways that asthma medicines can be inhaled. Many people use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) that contains a chemical propellant to help you inhale the medicine. It may be difficult for you or your child to coordinate the press-and-breathe technique that must be used with an MDI, so your doctor may suggest using a spacer or holding chamber with this device. The medicine is propelled into the chamber and then easily breathed in. Other inhalers are the rotary inhaler and dry-powder inhalers that deliver medicine without using chemical propellants, but rely upon your ability to inhale the medicine.
  
  

Nebulizers

• A nebulizer is a compressor-driven device that helps you inhale your asthma medicine. It delivers a fine mist of medication through a tube and mask that fits over your nose and mouth. The mask comes in sizes for infants, children and adults. Nebulizers are helpful for infants, young children and elderly people who cannot use an inhaler.