Short Acting Relievers

Short acting Relievers or Rescue medications (bronchodilators/short-acting beta2-agonists) provide rapid relief for asthma symptoms and symptoms during an asthma attack. They work by relaxing the muscles around the narrowed airways (bronchoconstriction) and make it easier to breathe again. Most bronchodilators open the airway and help restore normal breathing within 10 to 15 minutes. The effect lasts for about 4 hours.  Relievers do nothing to reduce the inflammation in the airway. To treat the inflammation, you will need to take a controller medication.

Use your reliever only when you have asthma symptoms. Carry it with you at all times so you will not be caught off-guard.

Note how often you need to use your reliever. If you need it 4 or more times a week for relief of your asthma symptoms (do not count the times you use it before/after exercise), it means that your asthma is not well controlled and you need to talk to your Doctor or follow your Asthma Action Plan. Your doctor may prescribe a controller medication or may change the dose or type of controller so you get your asthma under control.

Relievers are also used for the prevention of exercise-induced asthma. If a reliever is prescribed for you, take the dose 10 to 15 minutes before exercising.

Possible side-effects of short-acting bronchodilators include: headache, shaky hands (tremor), nervousness, fast heartbeat, and 'hyperactive' behavior in children

Examples of reliever medications include:

• Ventolin® HFA (Salbutamol)
• Apo-Salvent® CFC Free (Salbutamol)
• Airomir® (Salbutamol)
• Oxeze® (Formoterol)
• Berotec® (Fenoterol)
• Bricanyl® (Terbutaline)
• Atrovent® (Ipratropium)
• Isuprel® (Isoproterenol)
• Alupent® (Orciprenaline)

Theophyllines

Theophyllines are occasionally used to treat asthma. Theophylline is also a bronchodilator which relaxes muscles around the airway, allowing air to travel more freely in and out of the lungs. It is sometimes used to prevent the symptoms of asthma, especially during the night.  Their effect on airway inflammation hasn’t yet been conclusively proven and they are known to have a number of side effects.

Examples of theophyllines are:

• Slo-Bid®
• Uniphyl®
• TheoDur®
• TheoLair®

Possible side effects of theophyllines include: headache, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, irritability and upset stomach.

Long-acting Relievers

Long Acting Relievers (bronchodilators/LABA’s) relax the muscles in the airway for up to 12 hours (they are often used with inhaled corticosteroids to achieve asthma control– see Controller medication section). They do not replace the need for short acting Relievers. Currently, researchers do not think that long-acting bronchodilators can reduce the airway inflammation on their own, but they may help the Controller medications (inhaled steroids) work better. LABAs are not intended to be used alone for the treatment of asthma and should be used only as your Doctor has prescribed.

Possible side effects of long-acting bronchodilators include: increased heart rate, headache, anxiety, and tremor. 

Examples of long-acting bronchodilators are:

• Oxeze® (Formoterol)
• Serevent® (Salmeterol)
• Foradil® (Formoterol)