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 68 Results

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

Prednisolone – Econopred

Prednisolone – Econopred

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Prednisolone

Brand Name: Econopred®

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroid

Form: Dissolving tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Weight gain/swelling
Increased appetite
Behavioral and mood changes
Blood sugar changes
High blood pressure


Prednisolone – Generic

Prednisolone – Generic

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Prednisolone​

Brand Name: Generic

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroid

Form: Dissolving tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Weight gain/swelling
Increased appetite
Behavioral and mood changes
Blood sugar changes
High blood pressure


Prednisolone – Orapred ODT

Prednisolone – Orapred ODT

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Prednisolone

Brand Name: Orapred ODT®

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroid

Form: Dissolving tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Weight gain/swelling
Increased appetite
Behavioral and mood changes
Blood sugar changes
High blood pressure


Prednisolone – Pediapred

Prednisolone – Pediapred

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Prednisolone

Brand Name: Pediapred®

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroid

Form: Dissolving tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Weight gain/swelling
Increased appetite
Behavioral and mood changes
Blood sugar changes
High blood pressure


Prednisone – Generic

Prednisone – Generic

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Prednisone

Brand Name: Generic

Medicine Use: Quick-relief

Type of Medicine: Oral corticosteroid

Form: Tablet, Liquid

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Allergic reactions
Increased heart rate/pressure
High or low blood pressure
Fainting
Skin changes
Endocrine changes like slowed growth in children, diabetes, and menstrual changes
Weight gain/swelling
Severe stomach pain and bloating
Appetite changes
Blood conditions like anemia or high white blood counts
Muscle and bone weakness
Neurological changes like headaches, mood changes, trouble concentrating, and dizziness
Vision problems


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

Salmeterol Xinafoate – Serevent Diskus

Salmeterol Xinafoate – Serevent Diskus

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Salmeterol Xinafoate

Brand Name: Serevent® Diskus®

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

Type of Medicine: Long-acting beta agonist

Form: Dry powder inhaler

Prescribing Info: https://gsksource.com/sereventdiskus

Notes:
SEREVENT DISKUS is only an add-on therapy for asthma that is not well-controlled by an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Serevent Diskus should not be taken on its own. It must be taken in combination with an ICS.

Possible Side Effects:
Headache
Nasal congestion
Throat irritation
Runny nose
Flu
Bronchitis

You may experience other side effects if you have COPD. For more information, please see the Severent Diskus prescribing information 

Notes/Resources:
Instructions for Use
Learn more about salmeterol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding

Serevent

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

Theophylline – Aminophylline

Theophylline – Aminophylline

/ Asthma / Asthma Treatment / Asthma Medicines

Drug Name: Theophylline

Brand Name: Aminophylline

Medicine Use: Long-term control

Type of Medicine: Xanthine

Form: Tablet

Prescribing Info:

Possible Side Effects:
Nausea/vomiting
Headache
Insomnia


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.