How do reliever inhalers help asthma?
When you have an asthma attack your blue reliever inhaler gets the medicine straight to your lungs, so it can quickly relax the muscles surrounding your airways. The airways can then open more widely, making it easier to breathe again. You should feel a difference to your breathing within a few minutes.
Who needs a reliever inhaler?
Anyone diagnosed with asthma will be prescribed a reliever inhaler, including children under five with suspected asthma. This is to make sure you can relieve asthma symptoms quickly when they come on.
Is a reliever inhaler all you need?
If you only have very mild symptoms, for example if you come into contact with a known trigger, your doctor may prescribe you just a reliever inhaler to use when you get symptoms. But if you notice you're using your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, or you're getting symptoms most weeks, speak with one of our doctors about getting a preventer inhaler too.
What kinds of reliever inhalers are there?
Usually blue, short-acting reliever inhalers contain medicine that relaxes the airways and makes it easier for you to breathe. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) give the medicine in a spray form (aerosol), for example Ventolin, Airomir and Salamol. Breath actuated inhalers (BAIs), such as Easi-breathe, Airmax, and Autohaler, automatically release a spray of medicine when you begin to inhale. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs), such as an Accuhaler, give the medicine in a dry powder instead of a spray.
When do I need to take my reliever inhaler?
Use your reliever inhaler as soon as you notice asthma symptoms. It can help get your asthma back under control and prevent an asthma attack. If your asthma is triggered by exercise, your doctor may suggest you take your reliever inhaler 20 minutes before you start exercising as this can prevent symptoms coming on. If exercise frequently triggers symptoms for you though, it's worth making an appointment to have an asthma review with your own GP. Asthma symptoms brought on by any kind of exercise can be a sign that your asthma is not well managed. If you need to take your reliever three or more times a week it could be a sign that your asthma isn't well controlled.
What are the possible side effects of reliever inhalers?
Relievers are a safe and effective medicine and have very few side effects. Some people may experience the following side effects after taking a few puffs of their reliever inhaler:
Their heart beats faster for a short while.
Their muscles shake slightly (These usually pass within a few minutes or a few hours at most and are not dangerous).
If you think you've collected more than 12 prescriptions for your reliever inhaler in a year, or you get through more than one inhaler in a month, see your GP or asthma nurse. It could be that your asthma's not well managed and you're at higher risk of an asthma attack). If you have a preventer inhaler and are using it in the right way as prescribed, but you're still having asthma symptoms, you might also need a long-acting reliever inhaler. It's really important to understand that you need to use your long-acting reliever inhaler alongside a preventer, and not on its own.
How do preventer inhalers help asthma?
An asthma preventer inhaler prevents inflammation and swelling in your airways. It helps the medicine get right into your airways so it can get to work where it's needed. If you use your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed, using a good inhaler technique, your airways will be less sensitive. This means you'll be less likely to react to your usual asthma triggers. As your preventer inhaler helps stop symptoms coming on in the first place, you may notice you don't need to use your reliever inhaler as much. In order to get the full benefits, you need to take your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed (usually morning and evening) even when you're feeling well. This is because the protective effect of the preventer inhaler builds up over time. There are several different types of preventer inhaler. They all contain a low dose of steroid medicine to reduce inflammation. The steroids used to treat asthma are called corticosteroids. These are a copy of those produced naturally in our bodies. They are completely different to the anabolic steroids associated with bodybuilders and athletes. Preventer inhalers are often brown, they include:
- Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) which give the medicine in a spray form (aerosol). This is the one you often use with a spacer.
-Breath actuated inhalers (BAIs) which automatically release a spray of medicine when you begin to inhale (breathe in).
-Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) which give the medicine in a dry powder instead of a spray.
Does everyone with asthma need a preventer inhaler?
There are very few people who only need a reliever inhaler for when they get symptoms. Most people with asthma benefit from a regular preventer inhaler taken every day to prevent symptoms coming on. This is because preventer medicine, taken as prescribed, builds up your asthma protection over time and helps prevent asthma symptoms.
What benefits can I expect from my preventer?
If you take your preventer inhaler as prescribed, you'll soon start to notice the benefits. For example, you might notice:
- You're less sensitive to your triggers such as cigarette smoke. and colds and flu, because your airways are less inflamed.
- You're able to climb stairs or walk up hills more easily.
- You're sleeping better, and not coughing at night.
- You or your child need less time off work or school.
- You are more able to take part in exercise and family activities.
You won't notice these improvements straight away. But if you keep taking your preventer inhaler as prescribed, and continue to take it even if you feel well, all these benefits could start to feel just part of every-day life. Using a preventer inhaler every day as prescribed makes your airways less likely to react to any triggers you come across. Your preventer inhaler contains a dose of steroid medicine which you breathe in. It controls the inflammation and swelling in your airways and makes them less sensitive to your triggers.
Will you still need to use a reliever as well as a preventer?
If you're prescribed a preventer inhaler, it doesn't mean you should stop carrying your blue reliever inhaler wherever you go. Although they have different jobs, you need both a preventer and a reliever to control your asthma. A preventer inhaler prevents inflammation and sensitivity in your airways over time. This means if you take your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed, you're less likely to react to triggers and get asthma symptoms such as breathlessness. A good routine of taking your preventer inhaler can help cut your risk of an asthma attack. A reliever inhaler relieves symptoms when they come on. It acts quickly when you have an asthma attack but it doesn't do anything about the inflammation building up in your airways.