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By listing your child’s date of birth, AsthmaKidCare™ is able to provide you and your child with age-specific information, tips, and resources.

How Do Asthma Controller Medicines Work?

Sometimes understanding the different types of asthma medications can be a challenge. Below you’ll find a list of the different controller (preventive) medications that may be prescribed by your child’s doctor and information about how each type works differently.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs)

How they work: while not precisely known, ICSs are thought to work on multiple inflammatory pathways to reduce the swelling and inflammation in the lungs that are usually present in children with asthma. Less inflammation decreases airway sensitivity to asthma triggers.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed guidelines to help physicians manage asthma. These guidelines may be considered together with other information by your child’s doctor to determine individual patient treatment needs.

For children who need a controller medicine for persistent asthma, the NIH guidelines recommend ICSs as the preferred treatment. PULMICORT RESPULES is an ICS.

Used to treat

Mild persistent asthma
Moderate persistent asthma
Severe persistent asthma

Download Inhaled Corticosteroids: How They Can Help (PDF – 434KB) to learn more about ICSs and how they are different from anabolic steroids (the kinds athletes use), a common mix-up for parents.

Long-acting beta2-agonists

How they work: relax the muscle bands that tighten around the airways (bronchiole tubes). Since they do not reduce inflammation, they may be used in conjunction with other anti-inflammatory medications.

Inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting beta2-agonists

How they work: combination asthma medications that reduce inflammation in the lungs and relax the muscle bands that tighten around the airways (bronchiole tubes).

Leukotriene modifiers (LTRAs)

How they work: reduce inflammation in the airways by blocking the action of leukotrienes, a type of chemical the body releases after coming into contact with an allergen or irritant.

Mast cell stabilizers

How they work: stabilize the mast cell from releasing chemicals that cause inflammation. Mast cell stabilizers prevent the release of these substances and, therefore, reduce some forms of inflammation.