Asthma

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Asthma Medicines

There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with the right treatment plan. Your treatment plan will include avoiding asthma triggers and taking certain medicines.

For proper use, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist or read the prescribing information for your medicines. The most common side effects are listed. For a full list of side effects of a medicine, visit the links under Prescribing Information.

Learn more about asthma treatments and management basics in our FREE self-paced online course for people with asthma.

Notes: “Flu” is listed as a side effect for some medicines. But these medicines do NOT cause the flu. The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. “Flu” may be listed as a side effect because it was reported as one during a drug’s clinical trials, and the FDA requires that it be listed as it was reported. But it may mean “flu-like symptoms” or “respiratory infections.” It is very important that you take your prescribed medicines as directed and get a flu shot every year. If you have any questions about side effects, talk to your health care provider.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America does not endorse a particular medicine or product.

  • Medicine Use

  • Type of Medicine

Found 6 Results

Benralizumab – FASENRA

Benralizumab – FASENRA

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Benralizumab

Brand Name: FASENRA®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: Injection

Prescribing Info: FASENRA (benralizumab) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Possible Side Effects:
Allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis
Headache
Sore throat

Notes/Resources:
FASENRA is a maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma.
Learn about benralizumab (FASENRA®) in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

AirDuo Respiclick dry powder inhaler

Dupilumab – DUPIXENT

Dupilumab – DUPIXENT

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Dupilumab

Brand Name: DUPIXENT®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: Injection

Prescribing Info: DUPIXENT (dupilumab) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Notes:

DUPIXENT is a maintenance treatment for moderate-to-severe asthma caused by type 2 inflammation (which includes eosinophilic asthma and/or allergic asthma). DUPIXENT is also approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and prurigo nodularis.

Learn more about dupilumab in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Possible Side Effects:
Joint pain
Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site)
Upper respiratory tract infections
Eye and eyelid inflammation
Dry eye
Herpes virus infections
Common cold symptoms
Cold sores in your mouth or on your lips
Throat pain
High count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia)
Dizziness
Muscle pain
Diarrhea
Gastritis
Toothache
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Parasitic infections

Dupixent Injection Syringes

Mepolizumab – NUCALA

Mepolizumab – NUCALA

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Mepolizumab

Brand Name: NUCALA®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: Injection

Prescribing Info: NUCALA (mepolizumab) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Notes: NUCALA is a maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma. NUCALA is also approved for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Possible Side Effects:
Headache
Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site)
Back pain
Tiredness (fatigue)

Notes/Resources:
Learn more about Mepolizumab in pregnancy and while breastfeeding


Omalizumab – XOLAIR

Omalizumab – XOLAIR

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Omalizumab

Brand Name: XOLAIR®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: Injection

Prescribing Info: XOLAIR (omalizumab) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Notes: XOLAIR is a maintenance treatment for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma. XOLAIR is also approved for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and chronic spontaneous urticaria (chronic hives).

Possible Side Effects:
Fever
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Dizziness
Tiredness (fatigue)
Bone fractures
Itching
Skin rash
Ear pain or discomfort
Headache
Nose, throat, or sinus swelling
Stomach pain
Throat infection
Ear infection
Nose bleeds

You may experience other side effects if you have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps or chronic spontaneous urticaria. For more information, please see the XOLAIR prescribing information

Xolair bottle asthma medicine

Reslizumab – CINQAIR

Reslizumab – CINQAIR

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Reslizumab

Brand Name: CINQAIR®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: IV Infusion

Note: CINQAIR is a maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Prescribing Info: CINQAIR (reslizumab) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Possible Side Effects:
Throat pain

Cinqair Biologics asthma medicine

Tezepelumab-ekko – TEZSPIRE

Tezepelumab-ekko – TEZSPIRE

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Tezepelumab-ekko

Brand Name: TEZSPIRE®

Medicine Use: Add-on therapy/long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologic

Form: Injection

Prescribing Info: TEZSPIRE (tezepelumab-ekko) injection prescribing information insertDownload PDF

Note: TEZSPIRE is currently the only biologic approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for severe asthma regardless of asthma phenotype (type of asthma).

Possible Side Effects:
Allergic reaction
Sore throat
Joint and back pain

Cinqair Biologics asthma medicine

References

Medical Review August 2018.

Asthma zones signs and symptoms

Asthma Care for Adults
Knowing how to manage asthma is important for better health and quality of life. We offer an online course called ASTHMA Care for Adults. This comprehensive program covers a full range of topics everyone with asthma needs to know. This self-paced online course is presented in different formats, such as videos, animations, handouts and more.