What is in an asthma medication anyway?

It depends: It depends on the type of medication. Asthma rescue medications typically contain albuterol, a medication that relaxes smooth muscles that can tighten and narrow the airways. Other asthma medications contain anti-inflammatory compounds like inhaled steroids, while others work by stabilizing specific "allergy" cells called mast cells. There are many different types of asthma medications!

Steroid or beta: Inhaled asthma medications consist of a few drug classes: inhaled steroids (to reduce airway inflammation), a beta agonist (to relax the muscles in the airway), mast cell stabilizers (cromolyn sodium, which keeps allergic reactions from getting out of control), leukotriene receptor agonists (which keep allergic reactions down as well), anticholingerics, and oral steroids.