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.

Note: “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 62 Results

Budesonide – Pulmicort RESPULES

Budesonide – Pulmicort RESPULES

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Budesonide

Brand Name: Pulmicort RESPULES®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Inhaled corticosteroid

Form: Nebulizer solution

Possible Side Effects:
Respiratory infections
Runny nose
Cough
Viral infections
Viral irritation/inflammation of stomach and intestine
Ear infections
Nosebleed
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Rash

Notes/Resources:
How To Correctly Use Your Asthma Devices – See nebulizer instructions


Budesonide/Formoterol – Symbicort

Budesonide/Formoterol – Symbicort

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Budesonide/Formoterol

Brand Name: Symbicort®

Medicine Use: Long-term control, Quick Relief, or Both

Type of Medicine: Combination inhaled medicines

Form: Metered dose inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://www.mysymbicort.com/

Possible Side Effects:
Throat irritation
Headache
Upper respiratory tract infection
Throat pain
Sinusitis
Flu
Back pain
Nasal congestion
Upset stomach
Vomiting
Thrush

Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) Combination Medicines: Quick-Relief and Controller Medicine Combined

A combination inhaler that contains both formoterol and budesonide may be used as both a quick-relief and a controller medicine. This may be prescribed to be taken daily to prevent symptoms, as needed for sudden symptoms, or both. Note: As of January 2022, this is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a quick-relief medicine. However, the National Institutes of Health does recommend the use of formoterol-budesonide in a stepwise approach for asthma management (2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines).

Symbicort 360

Ciclesonide – Alvesco

Ciclesonide – Alvesco

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Ciclesonide

Brand Name: Alvesco®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Inhaled corticosteroid

Form: Metered dose inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://www.alvesco.us/

Possible Side Effects:
Headache
Swelling of nose and throat
Sinusitis
Throat pain
Upper respiratory infection
Joint pain
Nasal congestion
Arm/leg/back pain

Notes/Resources:
How To Use Alvesco


Cortisone Acetate – Generic

Cortisone Acetate – Generic

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Cortisone Acetate

Brand Name: Generic

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroids

Form: Tablet

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Vision problems (like glaucoma)
Increased appetite
Nausea/vomiting
Weight gain/swelling
Shortness of breath
Severe depression/unusual thoughts or behavior
Seizures
Bloody or tarry stools
Coughing up blood
Increased heart rate
Severe stomach pain


Cromolyn Sodium – Generic

Cromolyn Sodium – Generic

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Cromolyn Sodium

Brand Name: Generic

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Cromolyn Sodium

Form: Nebulizer solution

Prescribing Info

Possible Side Effects:
Drowsiness
Hoarseness
Upset stomach
Tightness in lungs
Wheezing
Rash


Dexamethasone – Generic

Dexamethasone – Generic

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Dexamethasone

Brand Name: Generic

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroids

Form: Tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info: https://www.drugs.com/pro/dexamethasone.html

Possible Side Effects:
Itching/hives
Vision problems
Nausea/vomiting
Weight gain/swelling
Moodiness
Skin color changes
Increase in heart rate


Dupilumab – DUPIXENT

Dupilumab – DUPIXENT

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Dupilumab

Brand Name: DUPIXENT®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Biologics

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:
Allergic reactions
Eye problems
Inflammation of your blood vessels
Joint aches and pain
Injection site reactions
Upper respiratory tract infections
Eye and eyelid inflammation
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)

Dupixent Injection Syringes

Fluticasone Furoate – ARNUITY ELLIPTA

Fluticasone Furoate – ARNUITY ELLIPTA

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Fluticasone Furoate

Brand Name: ARNUITY® ELLIPTA®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Inhaled corticosteroid

Form: Dry powder inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://www.arnuity.com/

Possible Side Effects:
Runny nose and sore throat
Headache
Breathing problems (bronchitis)
Flu

Notes/Resources:
About ARNUITY

Arnuity Inhaler

Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol – TRELEGY ELLIPTA

Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol – TRELEGY ELLIPTA

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol

Brand Name: TRELEGY ELLIPTA®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Combination inhaled medicine

Form: Dry powder inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://www.trelegy.com/

Possible Side Effects:
Upper respiratory infection
Bronchitis
Thrush
Headache
Back pain
Flu
Sinus inflammation
Runny nose/sore throat
Urinary tract infection

You may experience other side effects if you have COPD. For more information, please see the TRELEGY ELLIPTA Prescribing Information

Notes/Resources:
How To Use TRELEGY ELLIPTA


Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol – BREO ELLIPTA

Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol – BREO ELLIPTA

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol

Brand Name: BREO ELLIPTA®

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Combination inhaled medicines

Form: Dry powder inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://www.mybreo.com/

Possible Side Effects:
Runny nose
Sore throat
Headache
Flu
Respiratory infection
Bronchitis
Sinus inflammation
Mouth and throat pain
Hoarseness and voice changes
Cough

Breo Ellipta

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.