Short-Acting Beta2-Agonists for Quick Relief of Asthma Symptoms
Examples
Prescription short-acting beta2-agonists for
asthma include:
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| albuterol | Proventil, Ventolin |
| levalbuterol | Xopenex |
| metaproterenol | Â |
| terbutaline | Â |
Short-acting beta2-agonists are available in inhaled,
pill, liquid, and injectable forms. The inhaled form is available in
metered-dose
inhalers (MDIs) and as a liquid for compressor-driven
nebulizers. Always read the directions to be sure you
are using the inhaler correctly.
How It Works
Short-acting beta2-agonists are
bronchodilators. They relax the muscles lining the
airways that carry air to the lungs (bronchial tubes) within 5 minutes. This increases airflow and makes it easier to breathe. They relieve
asthma symptoms for 3 to 6 hours. They do not control
inflammation.
Why It Is Used
Short-acting beta2-agonists are used
to:
- Provide quick relief of symptoms during
asthma attacks. - Prevent asthma symptoms
before exercise. - Treat symptoms in
intermittent asthma.
Using the inhaled form of a short-acting beta2-agonist is preferred
for asthma treatment, because it:
- Opens (dilates) bronchial tubes better than the
pill or liquid form and does so at lower doses. - Causes fewer side
effects throughout the body than the oral forms. - Acts faster and
lasts about as long as the oral forms.
Medicine treatment for asthma depends on a person’s age,
his or her type of asthma, and how well the treatment is controlling asthma
symptoms.
- Children up to age 4 are usually treated a
little differently than those 5 to 11 years old. - The least amount
of medicine that controls the asthma symptoms is used. - The amount
of medicine and number of medicines are increased in steps. So if asthma is not
controlled at a low dose of one controller medicine, the dose may be increased.
Or another medicine may be added. - If the asthma has been under
control for several months at a certain dose of medicine, the dose may be
reduced. This can help find the least amount of medicine that will control the
asthma. - Quick-relief medicine is used to treat asthma attacks. But
if you or your child needs to use quick-relief medicine a lot, the amount and
number of controller medicines may be changed.
Your doctor will work with you to help find the number and
dose of medicines that work best.
How Well It Works
Short-acting beta2-agonists are the
treatment of choice for relieving symptoms during asthma attacks and for
treating intermittent asthma symptoms.footnote 1 They are also
used to relieve symptoms caused by exercise.
Research shows
that combining short-acting beta2-agonists and ipratropium in acute, severe
asthma episodes, compared with using only beta2-agonists, resulted in:footnote 2, footnote 3
- Fewer hospital visits.
- Improved
lung function.
Side Effects
All medicines have side effects. But many people don’t feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
- Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
- Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
- If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Call your doctor if you have:
- Hives or a skin
rash. - Rapid heartbeat or
palpitations.
Common side effects of this medicine include:
- Headache and
dizziness. - Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Anxiety.
- Nervousness or tremor (such as unsteady, shaky hands).
Side effects of short-acting
beta2-agonists are more likely to occur when using the pill, liquid, or
injectable forms than when using the inhaled form.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Because short-acting beta2-agonists work quickly to reduce
symptoms, people sometimes overuse these medicines instead of using the
slower-acting, long-term medicines. But
overuse of quick-relief medicines has harmful effects,
such as reducing the future effectiveness of these medicines.footnote 4
If you need to use
short-acting beta2-agonists on more than 2 days a week (except before
exercise), you may need to start or increase long-term therapy. Discuss this
with your doctor.
Try to avoid giving your child an inhaled
medicine when he or she is crying. In this case, not as much medicine is
delivered to the lungs.
Colds or other
upper respiratory infections can cause asthma episodes in some people. Some
doctors recommend that people who have intermittent asthma use a short-acting
beta2-agonist at the first sign of cold symptoms.
Taking medicine
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don’t take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Advice for women
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant, do not use any medicines unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines can harm your baby. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. And make sure that all your doctors know that you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant.
Checkups
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) ( What is a PDF document? ) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- National Institutes of Health (2007). National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (NIH Publication No. 08–5846). Available online: ://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/index.htm.
- Rodrigo G (2011). Asthma in adults (acute), search date April 2010. BMJ Clinical Evidence. Available online: ://www.clinicalevidence.com.
- Okpapi A, et al. (2012). Asthma and other recurrent wheezing disorders in children (acute), search date June 2010. BMJ Clinical Evidence. Available online: ://www.clinicalevidence.com.
- Salpeter SR, et al. (2004). Meta-analysis: Respiratory tolerance to regular beta2-agonist use in patients with asthma. Annals of Internal Medicine, 140(10): 802–813.
Current as of:
December 6, 2017