Quick Relief Medications

Quick relief medications, sometimes called rescue medications, open airways when you are having an asthma episode and give fast relief for tight, narrowed airways and the symptoms of coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness that happen with asthma. Having to use quick relief medications every day is a sign that you may need better asthma control. Talk with your health care provider about long-term control medication.

Short acting B2-Agonists
Anticholinergics (Ipratropium Bromide)

SHORT ACTING B2-AGONISTS
Fastest, safest, and most effective medicines used to treat an asthma episode.

How do they work?

• Quickly relaxes the muscles that tighten around airways in the lungs quickly.

When are they used?

• Used to treat acute asthma symptoms and flare-ups.
• Used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Possible side effects:

• Increased heart rate
• Shakiness and trembling
• Headache
• Nausea

Brand names:

• Maxair
• Proventil (albuterol)
• Ventolin (albuterol)

Other information:

• Available in many different forms: metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler, tablets, syrup, and solution for nebulizer.
• Inhaled method starts working faster, has fewer side effects, and works better than oral medications.
• Regularly scheduled daily use is not generally recommended.
• If the medication does not seem to be working, or if it needs to be used too often (more than one canister per month) that means that the asthma is not under control and a doctor needs to evaluate and possibly start or increase long-term control therapy.

ANTICHOLINERGICS (IPRATROPIUM BROMIDE)

How do they work?

• Quickly reverses the narrowing of airways.
• Can decrease amount of mucus the lungs produce.

When are they used?

• For quick relief of asthma episodes
• Although they work more slowly than a beta2-agonist, they are often added to treatment when a beta2-agonist fails to bring relief during an asthma episode.
• Also used for patients who do not tolerate beta2-agonists.

Possible side effects:

• Cough
• Dry mouth
• Bad taste
• Headache

Brand names:

• Atrovent

Other information:

• Can be inhaled from a metered dose inhaler or compressor-driven nebulizer. Also can be taken through a nasal spray.
• Often used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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