Treatment

  Long-acting Beta-2 Agonists

Long-acting beta-2 agonists are available under various brand names, including: Foradil^®, Oxeze^® and Serevent^®.

It also available combined with a corticosteroid (fluticasone) in Advair^MC.

Action
This category of inhaled long-acting beta-2 agonist opens the airways and reduces bronchial sensitivity for approximately 12 hours. Foradil^® and Oxeze^® begin to work after a few minutes. Oxeze^® is sometimes recommended as emergency medication. Serevent^® begins to work within 10 to 20 minutes.

Dosage
This type of bronchodilator must be taken regularly, i.e. every 12 hours. In asthma, it must always be taken with an anti-inflammatory drug (inhaled corticosteroid).

Never exceed the prescribed dose. Even if your asthma symptoms get worse, you should never increase the dosage of your long-acting inhaled bronchodilator without the doctor's advice. Use instead a short-acting bronchodilator to relieve symptoms.

Try to control your asthma by avoiding triggering factors and by adjusting doses of an inhaled corticosteroid according to your doctor's directions.

Side Effects
This type of medication can cause tremors, rapid heart beat, headaches and nervousness.