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.

Remember to check with your local pharmacy on how to dispose of unwanted/expired medication, including asthma devices.

Reliever Medicine

When you have symptoms like cough, wheeze, trouble breathing, or chest tightness, this medicine brings relief in 5 to 10 minutes and lasts for about 4 hours. If you or your child need 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 get control of asthma. Reliever medicine does not treat the main problem of asthma which is 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 of the fever.

Devices

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

Proper Device Technique

To make sure your asthma medicine reaches your lungs, it is important to use the correct technique. Each type of medicine device requires a different technique. Click on the link below for instructions on how to use your medicine correctly or you can ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How to Use Your Device Correctly

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.