Inhalation therapy for treatment has been in use as far back as the mid-1800s. The use of various inhalers to stop asthma attacks has shown excellent results for a very long time. Asthma inhalers provide health security to asthma patients as they can be easily administered in an urgent situation. This is why finding the best inhalers to use becomes paramount, just as finding the right doctor for asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease. Chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyper-responsiveness (a response to triggers), which results in recurring symptoms such as wheezing, dyspnea (shortness of breath), chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma symptom episodes are typically associated with airflow obstruction within the lungs, which is usually reversible with appropriate asthma treatment.

Asthma inhalers may be helpful in these cases:

• Experiencing shortness of breath.
• A feeling of chest tightness or pain related to breathing.
• Wheezing sounds when exhaling.

Always follow a doctor’s instructions when using an inhaler. If symptoms do not resolve after using an inhaler, or if one’s symptoms worsen, a person might need to go to the emergency room or call 911. 

To find the best inhaler prescription, there is a need to strike a balance between finding the most appropriate asthma drug for a person's specific medical needs with the ability to use an inhaler correctly. Training from a doctor or another health care provider is helpful for learning how to use the device.

Forms of asthma inhaler medication

Short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators

Also referred to as SABA bronchodilators, these medications help ease symptoms of an asthma attack by reducing the chest tightness and breathlessness in asthmatics. This class of medication includes albuterol and levalbuterol. These medications activate beta-2 receptors on the smooth muscle that lines the airways, which then dilates the bronchi (the tubes that connect the windpipe to the lungs), which allows the lungs to take in more fresh air and reduces the feeling of shortness of breath or wheezing. The action starts within 5 minutes, and it can last for hours—enough time to seek medical assistance in case of an emergency. Medications used for asthma in the SABA class include:

• salbutamol.
• albuterol.
• Ventolin.
• ProAir.
• Proventil.
• levalbuterol.
• Xopenex.
• pirbuterol.
• Maxair.
• terbutaline.
• Bricanyl.

Long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators

These medications are called LABA bronchodilators and help in reducing chest tightness, breathlessness, and wheezing. Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers relax the muscles around the airways, which helps keep them open, thereby also preventing an asthma attack.

The impact is said to be long-acting since it lasts at least twelve hours. This is in contrast to the four-hour duration of the short-acting bronchodilator in a rescue relief inhaler. Long-acting bronchodilators include:

• salmeterol.
• Serevent.
• formoterol.
• Foradil.
• arformoterol.
• Brovana.
• olodaterol.
• Striverdi.

Other forms of asthma treatment medications include corticosteroid inhalers, which are used to prevent an asthma patient from having an asthma attack. The most common asthma prescription inhalers are the bronchodilator and corticosteroid inhalers.

Methods of using inhaled asthma medication

Dry powders

Dry powders for inhalation were developed as an alternative to metered-dose asthma inhalers to treat airway disease, such as an asthma attack. The dry powder inhalation devices create drug particles small enough that they easily deposit in the lungs.

Nebulizers

Nebulizers are asthma inhaler devices that use compressed gas to aerosolize a medication solution. Depending on the patient's preference, the aerosol can be administered via a plastic facemask or mouthpiece to effectively treat an asthma attack or prevent asthma symptoms.

Metered-dose asthma inhalers

The pressurized metered-dose inhaler was the first type of inhaler device to be marketed to treat airway disease, having been developed in 1956. It is both the most cost-effective and widely used type of inhaler device.

With non-pressurized metered-dose asthma inhalers, a device dispenses a softer mist of medication (aerosolized particles).

Asthma inhalers can be prescribed by HealthTap doctors, who can also help manage chronic conditions like asthma or similar respiratory conditions. Our doctors can provide prescription refills for patients who have been using their medications safely and regularly, and have stable symptoms.

Schedule an appointment today with a HealthTap primary care doctor to evaluate medical care for your respiratory health and well-being.