Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that affects over 23.0 million Americans as of 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The symptoms of asthma include difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest. The symptoms of asthma are caused by a combination of constriction of the muscles around the airways of the lungs, inflammation that causes swelling in the tissue lining the airway and production of mucus that also blocks the airway. Multiple medications can be prescribed for the treatment asthma, each designed to reduce symptoms by addressing the causes of asthma.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
One type of medication used to control the symptoms of asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid. Inhaled corticosteroids work by reducing the inflammation in the airways. By combating the inflammation in the lungs, inhaled corticosteroids keep the tissue lining the airways from swelling up and blocking air movement into and out of the lungs. MedlinePlus reports that types of corticosteroids include the brand names AeroBid, Pulmicort, Asmanex, Azmacort, Flovent, and Qvar.
Beta-2 Adrenergic Agonist
Another type of asthma medication is a beta-2 adrendergic agonist, which stimulates the nerves in many areas of the body. The Mayo Clinic describes this type of medication as a "bronchodilator," meaning it opens the airways. Inhalers that include a beta-2 adrenergic agonist are called "rescue inhalers," because they rapidly reduce the symptoms of an asthma attack, making it easier to breathe. These medications also are used to treat the symptoms of other lung diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Types of beta-2 adrenergic agonists include the brand name drugs Alupent, Brethine, Proventil, and Ventolin.
Combination Therapy
MedlinePlus reports that combination therapy is common in treating the chronic symptoms of asthma. Inhalers that contain more than one medication tend to treat both the inflammation and the constriction of the muscles around the airways. These types of drugs have both a steroid drug and a long-acting beta-agonist drug. Examples of these types of drugs are Advair and Symbicort.
Methylxanthines
Another type of drug prescribed to treat the symptoms of asthma is called methylxanthine, though these types of drugs are less used now than in previous years. Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that one type of methylxanthine is theophylline, which also produces bronchodilation. Too much of this type of drug can cause headaches and may make a person feel jittery. Severe possible side effects of theophylline is a life-threatening abnormal heart rate and seizures.
Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers also treat the symptoms of asthma by acting as anti-inflammatory drugs. Chemicals--called leukotrienes--produced in the body during an allergic reaction cause bronchoconstriction. Leuokotriene modifiers prevent the action of these chemicals, reducing the constriction around the airways.
