Prevention inhaler (2024)

FAQs

Prevention inhaler? ›

What is a preventer inhaler? A preventer inhaler is the main way to treat asthma. It contains a low dose of steroid medicine to keep down inflammation and swelling in your airways. Giving the medicine through an inhaler means it can get to your airways more easily.

Examples of these inhalers are Flixotide®, Pulmicort®, Beclazone® and Qvar®. These inhalers need to be taken every day as a regular scheduled maintenance treatment to control asthma. If you only take your preventer inhaler occasionally, or stop taking it if you feel well, it can cause your asthma to get worse.

The preventer inhaler you take every day does contain steroids, called corticosteroids. It's the steroids in your preventer inhaler that keep the inflammation down in your airways. If you're taking your inhaler in the right way, using a good technique, it'll be easier for the medicine to get straight to your airways.

Albuterol (also known as salbutamol) is used to prevent and treat wheezing and shortness of breath caused by breathing problems (such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is also used to prevent asthma brought on by exercise.

Preventer inhalers are the safest and best way for most people to lower their risk of asthma symptoms and attacks. As with all medicines, there are possible side effects. But the risk of side effects from taking a low dose of inhaled preventer medicine is very small.

It may take several weeks to see the full benefits of a beclometasone inhaler. You'll usually start to wheeze less or feel less breathless after starting to use a beclometasone inhaler for 3 to 7 days. Once your symptoms have improved, you should find you need to use your reliever inhaler less often.

Preventer inhalers

If you need to use a reliever inhaler often, you may also need a preventer inhaler. You use a preventer inhaler every day to reduce the inflammation and sensitivity of your airways, which stops your symptoms occurring. It's important to use it even when you do not have symptoms.

A budesonide inhaler containing formoterol can be used as both a preventer and a reliever for asthma and COPD. Brand names include Symbicort Turbohaler, DuoResp Spiromax, Fobumix Easyhaler and WockAIR.

ADVAIR DISKUS is used for asthma and COPD as follows: Asthma: o ADVAIR DISKUS is a prescription medicine used to control symptoms of asthma and to prevent symptoms such as wheezing in adults and children aged 4 years and older.

Can you buy a preventer inhaler? ›

You need a prescription to use a preventer inhaler. Always talk to your doctor about your medical condition and history first.

It is used to help prevent the symptoms of asthma. When used regularly (every day), inhaled fluticasone decreases the number and severity of asthma attacks. However, it will not relieve an asthma attack that has already started.

Your reliever inhaler treats asthma symptoms quickly when they come on. Your preventer inhaler comes in different colours. You use it every day as prescribed to prevent asthma symptoms. Your preventer inhaler keeps down the inflammation and sensitivity in your airways.

Clenil is the most common preventer, and others include Qvar, Flixotide and Pulmicort. There are also combination inhalers available, such as Seretide and Symbicort, which contain a preventer and a symptom reliever. These are usually prescribed in cases where a preventer inhaler has proved insufficient.

For people with seizures: This drug can make your seizures worse. Talk with your doctor to find out if this drug is safe for you. For people with low potassium levels: Albuterol can further lower your potassium levels. If you already have low potassium levels, this could cause negative heart effects.

Overusing a reliever inhaler actually puts a person at higher risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

Long-term control medications are taken daily on a long-term basis to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma. Examples of long-term controller medications include: Singulair, Flovent, Advair, Pulmicort, Symbicort and QVAR. Go to a complete listing of asthma medications.

Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids block the body's inflammatory response and are exceptionally effective at reducing asthma symptoms. They are the most potent form of anti-inflammatory drugs and have been an important part of asthma treatment for decades. Corticosteroids can be taken in several different forms.

If you're using Symbicort for asthma, it can be used as a preventer and/or a reliever. Reliever: Use 1 inhalation when needed for shortness of breath. You can repeat as required, up to a maximum of 12 inhalations in one day.

Inhaled corticosteroids

These anti-inflammatory drugs are the most effective and commonly used long-term control medications for asthma.