Community Pediatric Asthma Service
Asthma Medicines
The way we use medicines and devices in Canada may differ from other countries. Asthma medicine advice, movies and illustrations found on this website are consistent with the latest Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines, based on the highest levels of scientific evidence.
Controller/Preventer
Inhaled corticosteroids are generally used daily to help heal and prevent swelling in your airways and to reduce the mucus made by the bronchial tubes. Inhaled corticosteroids are often taken even when you have no symptoms to help keep your asthma under control.
Reliever
Reliever medicine temporarily relaxes the muscles around your airways to reduce symptoms like cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, or tightness in your chest. Reliever medicine should only be used when needed.
Oral Steroids
Sometimes asthma flare-ups cannot be controlled with your usual inhaled corticosteroid medicine. During these times, you may be prescribed an add-on corticosteroid as a liquid or pill.
Medicine Information in 14 Languages
Asthma medicine information is now available in 14 languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Korean, Mandarin Simplified, Mandarin Traditional,
Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Resources
- Why should I give my child asthma medicine?
- The experts answer your questions about Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma
- Asthma Medicine (video)
- Breath Easy Medication, Asthma Canada
- A new study reveals more than a quarter of people with asthma are still underusing controller inhalers – putting them at risk of severe attacks and hospitalizations, June 2022
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.