August 2005
|
Long-term Control Medicines
|
| Type of Medicine |
Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Possible Side Effects
to report to your doctor (not a complete list) |
|
Long-Acting Beta2-Agonists: Inhaled and Oral
Bronchodilators used daily to keep your symptoms controlled
|
Salmeterol |
Serevent |
- Headaches
- Shaking (tremors)
- Higher blood pressure
- Faster heart beat
- Stomach upset, nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle cramps
|
| Formoterol |
Foradil |
|
Note: Do not take them for an asthma episode as a rescue medicine.
|
| |
|
Combined Inhaled Medicines
Bronchodilators that combine a controller inhaler and a quick relief inhaler, or combine 2 controller inhalers into one.
|
Albuterol + Ipratropium |
Combivent |
Refer to side effects of each individual medicine |
| Albuterol + Ipratropium |
DuoNeb |
| Salmeterol + Fluticasone |
Advair |
|
Note: Do not increase the dosage or frequency without consulting your health care provider.
|
|
|
|
Long-Acting or Maintenance Methylxanthine: Oral
Bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles around the airways
|
Theophylline |
Slo-Bid |
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Faster heartbeat
- Trouble sleeping
|
| Theochron |
| Theo-Dur |
| Theo-24 |
| Uniphyl |
|
|
|
Corticosteroids: Inhaled
Potent anti-inflammatory that may help to reduce the swelling and inflammation
|
Beclomethesone |
Becolvent
QVAR
Vanceril |
- Hoarseness
- Thrush, yeast infection in the mouth
|
| Budesonide |
Pulmicort
Turbuhaler |
| Flunisolide |
Aerobid |
| Fluticasone |
Flovent |
| Triamcinolone |
Azmacort |
| Note: Do not use steroids for fast relief or shortness of breath. |
|
|
Anticholinergics: inhaled
Bronchodilator that relieves the tightening of the airways, or bronchospasm
|
Ipratropium
Short-Acting |
Atrovent |
|
|
Tiotropium bromide
Long-Acting
|
Spiriva |
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Faster heartbeat
|
|
Note: This is not a rescue medicine. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about a treatment plan. You should not use ipratropium if you have an allergy to soy products or peanuts. Do not allow the spray to get into your eyes. It may cause blurred vision or worsen glaucoma.
|
|
Quick Relief Medicines
|
|
Type of Medicine
|
Generic Name
|
Brand Name
|
Possible Side Effects
to report to your doctor (not a complete list)
|
|
Short-Acting Beta2-Agonists: Inhaled or Oral
Bronchodilators relax and open your airways to increase the flow of air
|
Albuterol |
ProAir HFA
Proventil
Proventil HFA
Ventolin
Volmax
VoSpire ER |
-
Faster heartbeat
- Headache
- Shaking (tremors)
|
| Metaproterenol |
Alupent |
| Pirbuterol |
Maxair |
| Terbutaline |
Brethaire
Brethine |
| Bitolterol |
Tornalate |
| Levalbuterol |
Xopenex |
|
Note: Keep your quick relief inhaler, if prescribed, with you at all times.
|
|
Additional Medicines
|
|
Type of Medicine
|
Generic Name
|
Brand Name
|
Possible Side Effects
to report to your doctor (not a complete list)
|
|
Corticosteroids: Oral
Most potent anti-inflammatory
|
Prednisone |
Many brand names |
Short-term use:
-
Increased appetite
-
Retaining fluids
-
Weight gain
-
Nausea or vomiting
-
Stomach upset or ulcers
-
Blood sugar changes
Long-term use:
-
High blood pressure
-
Thinning bones
-
Cataracts
-
Muscle weakness
-
Easier bruising
-
Slower wound healing
|
|
Note: Do not stop taking any steroid medicines without talking to your health care provider.
|
|
Expectorants and mucolytics
Medicines that may help move secretions out of the lungs and airways
|
Quaifenesin
|
Many name brands
|
Check with your pharmacist or health care provider
|
|
Acetylcysteine
|
Mucomyst
|
|
