Asthma Treatments - Reliever Medication

Most of the reliever medicines are based on adrenaline, the hormone produced naturally in the body at times of stress. A rush of adrenaline allows us to think clearly and act quickly in a crisis, and it is often known as the 'fight or flight' hormone.

One of its effects is to open the airways. Drugs in this category are known as adrenergic bronchodilators or beta-agonists or beta-stimulants.

They are taken at the first sign of any breathing difficulties, when peak monitor readings are lowered and before exercise, and they are effective for about four hours. If you need to take your reliever medicine more often than this, it is quite safe to do so. However, this is a sign that your asthma is getting out of control and you should consult a doctor. Two of the commonest reliever medicines are salbutamol (Ventolin) and terbutaline (Bricanyl).

Long acting relievers
When asthma and coughing occur despite the use of a preventer and reliever medicine, or if you have troublesome asthma in the middle of the night (nocturnal asthma), your doctor may suggest a longer acting reliever drug. Their effects can last up to 12 hours.

These drugs include two inhaled ones: oxitropium (Oxivent) and salmeterol (Serevent). Another long-acting reliever, theophylline (Slo-Phyllin and Uniphyllin), is currently only available in tablet form.

Drugs in this group work in a similar way to the other relievers, and they do not reduce the inflammation in the airways. For this reason, they cannot be taken instead of the anti-inflammatory preventive treatments.

Side effects of relievers
Any drug which is strong enough to have an effect on symptoms carries the risks of side effects as well. There is a choice of asthma drugs in all categories of treatment, so if one type disagrees with you, there is usually an alternative for you to try.

The main side effects of beta-agonist reliever medicines, such as salbutamol (Ventolin) and terbutaline (Bricanyl), are a trembling of the muscles, particularly in the hands.

Relievers in the anti-cholinergic drug group, such as ipratropium (Atrovent) and oxitropium (Oxivent), can cause a dry mouth, blurred vision, difficulties in passing urine and constipation. Theophylline-type drugs can lead to disorders of the heart rhythm, e.g. rapid heart rate and irregular heart beats. Other side effects may include flushing, nettle rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, nervousness, headaches, irritability, restlessness and over-excitability.