Asthma Treatments: Rescue vs Controller Medications
There are 2 primary types of asthma treatments—asthma rescue medications and asthma controller medications.
Asthma Rescue Treatments vs Asthma Controller Treatments
| Types of Asthma Treatment |
What They Do |
What They Don't Do |
|
Rescue
(quick relief)
Example: Albuterol
|
Treat airway constriction, providing immediate relief of sudden symptoms |
Provide long-term asthma control |
|
Controller medications
(preventive or maintenance)
Example: SYMBICORT
|
Prevent asthma symptoms by controlling airway inflammation and/or constriction |
Treat sudden asthma attacks |
- Asthma rescue medications are used for sudden asthma symptoms and are not meant to be used daily
- Asthma controller medications are for long-term asthma control and are meant to be used every day
When used as prescribed, asthma controller medications help prevent asthma symptoms on an ongoing basis. Some asthma medications, such as SYMBICORT, work by helping to prevent the underlying inflammation and constriction that cause asthma symptoms to worsen. Within 15 minutes, SYMBICORT starts to improve lung function and begins to help treat symptoms.
It's important to remember that asthma controller medications should not be used to treat sudden asthma symptoms. Asthma treatment, such as an asthma rescue inhaler, should be used as directed to treat sudden asthma symptoms.
*Subject to eligibility. Restrictions apply.
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