Community Pediatric Asthma Service

Inhaled corticosteroids are the most commonly used controller/preventer medicines to keep asthma under good control. Inhaled corticosteroids have been used for many, many years to treat asthma and are very safe. These are not the same type of steroids that some athletes use to build muscle and they are not addictive. When regular use of a preventer medicine does not control your asthma, your doctor may add a second type of preventer/controller medicine to improve asthma symptoms.

Device                                              Drug Name
Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)             Flovent (Fluticasone), Qvar, Alvesco
Turbuhaler                                         Pulmicort
Diskus                                                Flovent
Twisthaler                                          Asmanex
RespiClick                                         Aermony
Ellipta                                                Annuity

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRAs) block the release of Leukotrienes, which cause swelling in the airways of the lungs. These chewable pills can be taken in addition to an inhaled corticosteroid. Some people with very mild asthma may be able to take only the pill to control their asthma symptoms, however, Canadian Asthma Guidelines suggest that almost all patients should be started on inhaled corticosteroids first. 

Device                        Drug Name
Tablet/Pill                    Singulair, Montelukast

Long Acting Beta Agonists (LABAs) relax the muscles surrounding the airways in the lungs for about 12 hours and may be used when the regular use of an inhaled corticosteroid alone does not control your asthma.  LABAs do not replace reliever medicine in an emergency. LABAs are not prescribed for children.

Device                                     Drug Name
Turbuhaler                               Oxeze
Breezhaler                               Onbrez
Diskus                                      Serevent
Aerolizer                                  Foradil

Combination Medicines are convenient if your child needs to take both an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a LABA medicine, because they can take both medicines, in a single device.

Device                                                 Drug Name
Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)               Advair, Zenhale
Turbuhaler                                           Symbicort
Diskus                                                  Advair
Ellipta                                                   Breo
Inhub                                                    Wixela
Breezhaler                                           Atectura