The medicines long-term control is usually taken every day to control asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks from occurring.

The quick-relief medication is primarily taken to relieve the sudden onset of asthma symptoms (such as during an asthma attack), and in cases in which asthma symptoms occur only occasionally.

The type of medication prescribed by your doctor to treat their asthma symptoms depends on the type and severity of their asthma, and their individual medical needs.

Drug Control long-term

Medications to control long-term asthma medications include inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs (medications that reduce or prevent inflammation of the airways) and long-acting bronchodilators (drugs that open airways by relaxing muscles around and in the ways respiratory tighten during asthma).

The goal of long-term medications is to reduce and prevent inflammation of the airways that can trigger asthma attacks. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, its acronym in English is NHLBI ), the drugs long-term control may be recommended for people who:

Experience asthma symptoms three or more times a week.
Experience asthma symptoms at night three times or more per month.
When people first start medication long-term control, it may take a few weeks for the medication to take effect. It is important that the medicine long-term control is taken every day, even if the person feels good to continue to control asthma at an optimal level.

There are different types of “steroids”
Some steroid hormones like testosterone, stimulate the formation of protein and muscle growth. The derivatives of these steroids to strengthen the body are used illicitly by athletes competing in order to improve their athletic performance.

Corticosteroids are part of a very different group of steroids used for asthma treatment in the form of medicines and have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Since the beginning of the century, corticosteroids have been used to treat a wide variety of diseases where inflammation is the main problem (does not include infections or cancer) such as arthritis, psoriasis and asthma.

Steroids can be taken in different ways
For the treatment of asthma inflammation, steroids may be taken in tablet, inhalation, and occasionally in the hospital, by injection or intravenously. The steroid pills, injections or intravenous infusion is more effective in relieving asthma symptoms as they go through the body, including the bronchial tubes through the blood. However, they also cause more side effects.

Examples of steroids are prednisone tablet (trade names: Deltasone ® and Orasone ®) and methylprednisolone (brand name: Medrol ®).

What is a short course of oral steroids?
Steroids in tablet form (oral steroids) are usually prescribed for asthma has been difficult to control by other means. This is the most effective treatment for a severe asthma attack. In most cases, steroids are prescribed for a short period of time (a short course can be as short as 3 to 4 days or as long as 2 to 3 weeks). The treatment ends when the asthma has improved and can be controlled with other treatments.

The dose and duration of treatment with oral steroids may vary
Depending on the severity of asthma and susceptibility to the medication dose oral steroids vary. As a guide, consider a low dose of oral steroids less than 20 milligrams (mg) of prednisone, a moderate dose of 20 to 30 mg. and a high dose of 40 to 60 mg. Often high doses usually recommended initially when you need quick relief from an asthma attack, followed by a gradual reduction of dose on subsequent days to eliminate oral steroid.

However, when using short-term oral steroids, is not always necessary to reduce the dose. A high dose can be removed sharply and still be secure (for example, 40 mg of prednisone daily for 4 or 5 days and then stop taking them).

There is no specific oral dose of steroids for asthma patients. Your doctor will try to recommend the right dose for you and the way your body responds that he can adjust.

We often recommend taking all the tablets in the morning. Sometimes the dose of steroids was divided during the day and sometimes at night you can include.

The benefits of oral steroids
The benefits of oral steroids usually become evident after several hours. Breathing becomes easier and the wheezing, coughing, mucus production and narrowing of the chest gradually diminish. Other allergic diseases such as eczema and stuffy or runny nose may also benefit from anti-inflammatory actions of oral steroids. In addition, many people find that oral steroids, independent of its effect on breathing can give a powerful boost of energy for a short time.

Unwanted side effects in a dose of short-term oral steroids
Unwanted side effects of oral steroids are common even if the use is short term. Some people feel no effect, others feel only some and others feel the full effects. These effects usually disappear quickly when you stop taking the medication. These effects include irritation of the stomach (indigestion), fluid retention (swelling), worsening of acne, hunger, drowsiness, blurred vision, moodiness and difficulty concentrating. Women may have irregular menstrual cycle and may develop a vaginal infection. Less common complications include loss of touch with reality (psychosis), the onset of diabetes and bone injury to the joint (aseptic necrosis of bone).

What can you do to lessen the side effects?
To avoid some of these effects, secondary taking oral steroids with food and if necessary, take medication for heartburn (eg, Maalox ® or Mylanta ®) or acid blockers (eg, Pepcid ®, Zantac ®, Tagamet ®, or Axid ®) to decrease stomach upset. To reduce fluid retention, reduce salt intake. Also, avoid alcohol consumption (a risk factor for developing bone necrosis). There are prescription medications available to treat vaginal infections.

When the steroid dose is reduced or eliminated, you can feel other effects. These include: a feeling of stiffness or joint pain similar to flu symptoms, lack of energy, loss of appetite, sadness or tiredness. Be patient with this purpose and which will disappear briefly.

Adverse side effects of using oral steroids long-term
If you take oral steroids daily and long (months to years), especially in moderate or high doses, may occur several detrimental effects. These complications of long-term use include cataracts of the eyes, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), muscle weakness (myopathy), fragile skin with a tendency to bruise, hair loss, facial hair growth in women, swelling, fatty lump on the back of the neck and weight gain. The use of long-term steroids also causes certain types of unusual infections, the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, and reduced adrenal glands (which normally produce corticosteroid hormones). The latter effect creates the danger if you have taken steroids regularly in moderate doses or for longer than 3 to 4 weeks and suddenly stop drinking.

Are they dangerous oral steroids? Should they be avoided?
A severe attack of asthma that is not improving with other treatment is very dangerous. The use of oral steroids in the short term can often keep you out of hospital emergency room for treatment of asthma may prevent the need for hospitalization and, in extreme cases, can save your life. In case of severe asthma treatments oral steroids should not be avoided and must be taken immediately. There is only risk with prolonged continuous use. For most people with asthma are other effective strategies. Furthermore, in a near future asthma research promises the development of new treatments with fewer side effects.

According to Australian scientists, the drugs known as metilaxantinas corticosteroids have been replaced in the industrialized world, but are an important therapeutic for children’s cough cure in developing countries. “We have found good evidence that the use of child cough metilaxantinas be linked to (a cure) other asthmatic symptoms, “said Anne Chang, Queensland Children’s Hospital, lead author of the study. The metilaxantinas cause a relaxation of the bronchial thereby reducing the cough and breathing difficulties.

But on the other hand, are dangerous to children as they cause an imbalance in the nervous system, irritability and even cardiac arrhythmia can be fatal, according to researchers. Chang said that given the problems of chronic cough in children the metilaxantinas could be considered as a potential treatment only after other investigations have been made ​​and after a careful examination of side effects

Ways That Work For Asthma Medications
Asthma medications, like all prescription medicines contain certain active ingredients that make the products work in the human body. The product’s active ingredients, including the amount of each substance in each dose, are listed first in the label information on the drug or Drug Facts label.

The bronchodilators for asthma medications work by opening narrowed airways that during asthma attacks. The active ingredients of drugs for asthma are available in a tablet to take by mouth. Also available in inhalers, which are inhaled through the mouth.

Among the active ingredients of medicines for asthma include:

ephedrine
epinephrine

Asthma medications may also contain other active ingredients to alleviate further distress as chest congestion or accumulation of phlegm.

What is the treatment for asthma?
Most people with asthma take two kinds of medicines. One kind is called controller medicine long term. These drugs help control inflammation so you feel and breathe better. They stop your airways from reacting to what triggers your asthma. Controller medicines work only long if you take every day the way your doctor tells you. Another type of medication for asthma is quick-relief or rescue medicine (also called bronchodilators). These medicines dilate the airways (make them bigger) and make it easier for you to breathe. These inhaled medicines should only be used for quick relief when you are coughing or wheezing or chest tightness.

Bronchodilators
These medications are used to counteract the effect of narrowing in the lungs and may relieve coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. These are usually considered “rescue medications” for acute attacks of asthma. Beta agonists, theophylline and anticholinergics are types of bronchodilators. These drugs are available in pills, liquid, inhaled or injected.

The short-acting bronchodilators are used as needed when symptoms occur. Long-acting bronchodilators can be used for maintenance or daily to help control outbreaks.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
These medications help reduce inflammation that occurs in the airways. These include two types of medications:

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Cromolyn and nedocromil are two examples of this type of medication that children are usually inhaled.

Corticosteroids
These drugs can be administered in a variety of ways. Some of them are inhaled, while others may be taken as a pill or liquid form, or even injected. The steroids taken by mouth can have more side effects than those that are inhaled. The latter are drugs safe and effective control and should be taken daily. Consult your child’s doctor about the best option.

Leukotriene
These are a relatively new type of medicine being used to help control asthma symptoms. These medications help to decrease the narrowing of the lungs and reduce the likelihood of fluid in the lungs. Usually given by mouth.

Immunotherapy
Omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody that attacks an immunoglobulin associated with allergic reactions, can be used for severe asthma attacks in children older than 12 years and adults.

* Comes in the form of tablets, capsules or intravenously.
* It should monitor blood levels.
* Side effects include headaches, palpitations and stomach upset. Severe toxicity in the blood levels higher than the therapeutic may lead to seizures.

Anticholinergic Agents
Anticholinergic agents are available in inhaled form.

* Can be used alone or in combination with beta-agonist bronchodilator.
* Ipratropium is used to treat asthma, although its official use is for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
* Side effects may be a cough and headache.

Anti-IgE antibody:
Omalizumab was approved in 2003 as a new class of therapy known as “anti-IgE, allergic asthma for patients with moderate to severe persistent. It is currently approved only for use in the treatment of asthma.

The IgE, an antibody that all produce, is the cause of the symptoms of allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma in some people. The anti-IgE may reduce allergic reactions to free IgE antibodies fence so that the IgE can not produce the allergic reaction.

The use of this medication must be currently limited to patients with moderate persistent allergic asthma to severe:
1) are not well controlled by an appropriate combination therapy,
2) have complications due to use of inhaled or oral steroids,
3) most need of urgent attention, to go to the emergency department or inpatient services use due to severe exacerbations of asthma,
4) have serious problems to perform daily activities, or
5) do not tolerate other commonly prescribed drugs for asthma. Omalizumab is injected every two to four weeks depending on body weight and serum total IgE levels.

ICS: inhaled corticosteroids are considered the most effective medications for long-term control of persistent asthma. They offer a good asthma control with minimal effect on the rest of the body with normal doses.

* Minor side effects include the use of corticosteroid inhalers are hoarseness and thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth and throat). It is less probable that both problems appear if you gargle with water after use.

* Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids in children may cause a transient reduction in growth velocity, however, this problem tends to be minimal (about half an inch in the first year of use, usually without a continuous effect). In most cases, the benefits of controlling asthma is greater than the potential for any adverse effects.

Anti-leukotrienes: Many cells involved in inflammation of the airways produce powerful chemicals in the body called leukotrienes). Leukotrienes are responsible for increased inflammation that narrows the airway muscles and inflames the lining of those conduits.

* These drugs are used mainly for control in patients with moderate persistent asthma and in combination with inhaled corticosteroids in moderate to severe disease.

* One of them has also been approved to treat allergic rhinitis (montelukast).

Bronchodilators: The smooth muscle surrounding the airways may narrow in asthmatics and breathing difficult. These drugs relax the smooth muscle, improving air flow and easing breathing. There are several classes of bronchodilators to treat asthma.

Beta-agonist bronchodilators relax the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchial tubes.

* Beta-agonist bronchodilators fast-acting drugs are used as immediate relief. They come to inhale, liquid, injection and pills (albuterol and levalbuterol are two examples.) The effect of these agents usually occurs within minutes and lasts for 4 to 6 hours.

* Bronchodilators beta-agonists (salmeterol and formoterol) are used for long-term control of asthma. The effect of these medications can last up to 12 hours.

* The side effects of this class include nervousness, tachycardia, anxiety, insomnia and, rarely, headaches.

* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Public Health Advisory on beta-agonists, long-acting. Indicating that these agents may increase the risk of severe asthma attacks that threaten life in some patients. You should not change your medications without consulting your doctor. Ask your doctor about the possible benefits and risks of these agents to control their asthma.

The following information is intended to help asthma and allergy sufferers better understand the most common types of drugs. Not intended to be a specific recommendation for treatment. You should consult your personal physician to choose the best treatment plan to control your allergy and asthma.

Antihistamines: If you are allergic, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to treat allergic rhinitis (“hay fever”) and other conditions such as urticaria.

Antihistamines may diminish the effects of histamine (a chemical produced by the body during an allergic reaction). By preventing the action of histamine, allergy symptoms can be reduced. Antihistamines come in liquid, tablet or nasal spray.

Antihistamines are divided into:

* “First-generation sedating” known to cause drowsiness in some people

* “Second-generation nonsedating moderate sedation” are much less likely to cause drowsiness

Possible side effects of antihistamines (often on antihistamines “first generation”):

* Dry mouth
* Difficulty urinating (especially in men with prostate problems)
* Constipation
* Drowsiness
* In some children: nightmares, unusual shock, restlessness, irritability

These symptoms are much less common with antihistamines “second generation.” Evaluate your doctor the potential benefits of using antihistamines against the possible side effects.

Decongestants: Decongestants reduce nasal congestion and other symptoms associated with allergies. Reduce the size of blood vessels, thus reducing the amount of fluid that falls in the lining of the nose and can cause congestion.

* They come in liquid, nasal sprays and tablets.
* Most can be acquired by prescription or nonprescription.
* Most commonly, antihistamines and decongestants are combined so that they can control most symptoms.

Possible side effects of decongestants:

* Nervousness
* Insomnia
* Increased blood pressure or heart rate
* The “rebound rhinitis” may occur with the spray if used for more than three or four days. This rebound nasal congestion worsens and can lead to a “dependency” of using the drug.