Five types of medication can be delivered though inhalers and spacers:
- Short-acting bronchodilators, like salbutamol. These are used to give immediate relief of shortness of breath.
- Long-acting bronchodilators, like salmeterol and formoterol. They relieve symptoms for up to 12 hours.
- Corticosteroids like beclomethasone, diproprionate, budesonide and flutecasone. These are used to prevent the inflammation which can lead to asthma attacks.
- Cromolyn or nedocromil. They are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication used to prevent asthma attacks. They tend to be used in some children and in cases of exercise-induced asthma.
- Combination of a corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator – a recent newcomer to the market.