Asthma medications: What’s right for you?

Almost 3 million Australians live with asthma.¹

With the right action plan and medication, most children and adults with asthma will be able to manage their symptoms well and know how to deal with flare-ups if they occur.

If you have been diagnosed with asthma, your GP will help put together an action plan for you and prescribe the medications that best suit your needs.

Learn more about different ways you may need to manage and treat your asthma.

There isn't a cure for asthma, but treatments are available to help manage your symptoms so you can go about your daily activities unaffected by your asthma.²

If asthma is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to your lungs.³ If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it’s important to see your GP immediately to get advice on managing your asthma well.

Asthma is a variable and chronic condition, and symptoms can change as people age.³ It’s important you regularly review how you’re feeling with your doctor to ensure your symptoms are well-managed and not interfering with your everyday life.

Every person with asthma should have a written asthma action plan. The plan will be individually tailored to you, combining medicines and asthma management in a way that works best for you.⁴

The plan will:

• explain how to recognise worsening symptoms of asthma
• provide clear guidance on when you should adjust the amount of medicine you take if your asthma gets worse
• give instructions about when to see your GP or go to hospital.

Remember to take your asthma plan with you whenever you visit your doctor so they can review and update it as needed.

Most asthma medicines are delivered directly into your airways and lungs using special inhaler devices.

Inhalers are in the form of a dry powder or fine spray that propels the correct dose of medicine either when you press them or when you inhale (breath-actuated inhalers).⁵

There are many different types of inhalers, and some may suit you better than others. There are also devices such as spacers and nebulisers that attach to your inhaler to make it easier to use. These may be particularly useful for children or for older patients with arthritis or other conditions that make coordinating the inhaler difficult.

Your treatment won’t be as effective if you don’t use your inhaler correctly. Ask your doctor for advice or look online for approved and trusted health information with videos that show how to correctly use your inhaler.

During your asthma review, your doctor might also ask you to show how you use your inhaler to ensure you're getting the most benefit from the medication.

There are different types of inhaler medications that can treat asthma symptoms.

Short-acting relievers contain medicines like salbutamol that work to widen your airways quickly to ease symptoms.⁶

You use them when you have a flare-up for rapid relief of your symptoms. They can also be used before exercise (as prescribed by your doctor) to prevent exercise-induced asthma. You can buy short-acting relievers directly from your pharmacist without needing a prescription.

If you are needing to use a reliever more than twice a week for asthma symptoms (aside from using it before exercise), you may need to see your doctor for an asthma review.

These are taken every day to help reduce your symptoms and prevent flare-ups. You need to keep taking them as directed by your doctor even when you don't have symptoms.⁷

Preventers usually contain a corticosteroid medicine that works by reducing the inflammation in your airways. It can take up to 14 days for preventer medicines to work, but once they do, you may not need to use your reliever inhaler regularly. Sometimes your preventer may also contain a long-acting reliever medicine to further help manage your symptoms.

If you have severe asthma symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a course of steroid tablets. Several other medicines may be added on as tablets and inhalers if the standard treatments aren't suitable. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

It's important to take all your medicines as directed by your doctor as well as read the accompanying information leaflets. Your pharmacist or doctor can also help if you have any questions.

Medicines are only part of your treatment for asthma. Understanding what triggers your asthma or makes it worse is important. This way you can reduce your exposure to the things that make your asthma worse.

Your doctor may also recommend tracking your asthma symptoms or using a peak-flow meter. You can buy or may be given a peak-flow meter to use at home. This device measures how your air flows from your lungs and can help your GP manage your asthma.

Stopping smoking, as well as maintaining good general health, can also potentially improve your asthma symptoms.

If you have allergy-induced asthma that is triggered by allergens such as dust, pet dander or mould, try to reduce or eliminate these triggers in your home.

The National Asthma Council has video resources that can show you how to use your inhaler and tell you more about managing asthma symptoms.

Asthma Australia has online resources and videos, including an asthma action plan, that you can access.