Controller Medications
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them - Maya Angelou
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Asthma treatments and correct inhaler technique...
The most important asthma medication is the preventer, and that is a class of drug that reduces the inflammation. You’ll recall that the predominant driver of the narrowing of the bronchial tubes that causes asthma symptoms is inflammation. So we can manage that inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs. The anti-inflammatory drugs generally come in puffers, and you inhale those into the lungs where they’re directly deposited on the areas of inflammation and that leads to reduced swelling.
A common myth around asthma is that if you take your preventer medication you’ll get “used to it”, and we know that that’s not the case. Not taking your medication is a big risk for poorly controlled…
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Managing Asthma with Controller Medications
Many patients with asthma are not being prescribed or actively taking a long-term controller medication, even though they are needed to manage asthma effectively and prevent exacerbations. Promoting the use of long-term controller medications as part of a patient’s management plan is key to managing this disease.
Preventers / Controllers
Asthma preventer or controller medications are used to control asthma and lower the risk of disease exacerbations. These are typically inhaled corticosteroids, which may be delivered with a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) or separately. Step-wise increases in ICS dose accompanied by LABA is more likely to improve asthma control, compared to ICS alone. By definition, individuals with severe treatment refractory asthma will be on high-dose inhaled corticosteroids together with LABA.
Articles of Interest
4 Preventive Asthma Controller Medicines
Ultimately asthma controller medications are about getting your asthma symptoms under control. Make sure you have the information you need to control your asthma.
Asthma Medicines: Long-term Control
From steroids to Cromolyn...
Breathing Easy with Asthma Medications
These are the most important drugs for most people with asthma. Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce swelling and mucus production in the airways. As a result, airways are less sensitive and less likely to react to triggers. These medications need to be taken daily and may need to be taken for several weeks before they begin to control asthma.
Controllers
When you start taking controller medications, you may not notice a difference right away. It may take a few weeks before the inflammation in your airways is reduced. Even if you do not feel better right away, do not stop taking your controller medication unless your doctor tells you to.
Long-Term Control Medications Used to Treat Asthma
Long-term control medications are taken daily on a long-term basis to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma.
The Importance of Using Controller Medicines Daily
The key to controlling asthma is through the regular use of asthma controller medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, antileukotrienes, or combination inhalers containing inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators.
