Five types of medication can be delivered though inhalers and
spacers.
- Short-acting bronchodilators, like salbutamol. These are used to give
immediate relief of shortness of breath.
- Long-acting
bronchodilators, like salmeterol and formoterol. They relieve symptoms for up to
12 hours.
- Corticosteroids like beclomethasone, diproprionate,
budesonide and flutecasone. These are used to prevent the inflammation which can
lead to asthma attacks.
- Cromolyn or nedocromil. They are
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication used to prevent asthma attacks. They
tend to be used in some children and in cases of exercise-induced asthma.
- Combination of a corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator – a recent
newcomer to the market.
National Asthma Education Programme (NAEP)
Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA)