Long-term Control and Reliever Medicines for Asthma: What Each One Does
The two types of medicine have different goals. Mixing them up or stopping them on your own can be risky.
The difference between the two types of medicine
- Long-term control type: used to reduce airway inflammation and how often attacks happen. It needs to be used regularly.
- Reliever type: used to quickly ease symptoms during an acute attack. It is used as needed.
Common misunderstandings
Some people only use medicine when symptoms are obvious, and stop the control medicine as soon as symptoms improve. As a result, attacks keep coming back. Others use the reliever type often, as if it were a daily medicine. The right approach is to follow the plan your doctor has set, go for regular follow-up visits to check how well your asthma is controlled, and adjust the plan as needed.
Key points for use
It is very important to use your inhaler device correctly. You can ask a doctor or pharmacist to show you in person. Rinse your mouth after use as instructed. Keep a record of how often you use each medicine and how your symptoms change. If you are using the reliever type much more often, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you find it hard to speak, your lips turn blue or purple, or the reliever medicine does not work, call 120 (the emergency number in China) right away.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If your symptoms affect daily life, please see a doctor.