Community Pediatric Asthma Service

Reliever Medicine

Reliever medicines are short-acting medicines
which temporarily relax the muscles around the
airways and are used only as needed.

Use your reliever medicine when you have symptoms of cough, wheeze, trouble breathing, or chest tightness.

Take this asthma medicine as prescribed
This medicine brings relief in 5 to 10 minutes and should last about 4 hours
If your child needs a reliever medicine more than two times a week, it may indicate that there is uncontrolled swelling in the airways that must be treated with a controller medicine to control their asthma
Reliever medicine does not treat the main problem of asthma which is the swelling in the airways. Relievers can be compared to taking Tylenol for a fever; Tylenol only lowers the fever (treats the symptom), but does not treat the underlying cause

Device                                           Drug Name
Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)       Ventolin (Salbutamol), Airomir
Turbuhaler                                   Bricanyl
Diskus                                         Ventolin

Proper Device Technique

Using your asthma device properly will help your asthma medicine reach your lungs.

Each type of medicine device requires a different technique
Check your device technique with your educator, pharmacist or doctor

Tips on How to Use Your Device Properly

Walk | Run | Play | Breathe
Material on this website has been designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment.
If you have specific questions, please consult your doctor or appropriate health care professional.