One of the best ways to manage asthma, besides avoiding
triggers
, is to make sure that your child takes his or her medicine as
it's been prescribed. The effect of skipping medication will
vary depending on what kind it is.
What Controller Medications Do
Also called preventive, or maintenance medications, controller
medicines work over time to reduce airway inflammation and help
prevent asthma symptoms from occurring. Your child will need to
take these medicines regularly, even if he or she is feeling
fine.
If Your Child Skips One or More Doses
Although skipping a dose appears to have no immediate effect, it
allows the lungs to slowly get more irritated, putting your child
at increased risk of an asthma
flare-up
.
When taking controller medicine as directed, your child may be
better able to tolerate triggers, such as a cold or tobacco smoke,
without getting a flare-up. But if your child has
not
been taking the controller medicine, his or her lungs won't be
functioning as well and these irritants can cause an asthma
flare-up.
What Rescue Medications Do
Also called quick-relief or fast-acting medications, rescue
medicines work immediately to handle asthma symptoms when they
occur. These types of medicines are often inhaled directly into the
lungs, where they open up the airways and relieve symptoms such as
wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, often within
minutes.
If Your Child Skips One or More Doses
If your child doesn't use his or her rescue medications
during an asthma flare-up, the airways can continue to tighten
until the child ends up in the emergency department. So it's
important for your child to always have his or her rescue
medication available and for your child to take it as directed by
the doctor.
To help ensure that your child takes asthma medications
appropriately, involve him or her in the asthma treatment. Explain
how the medicines work and how much your child needs to take.
Having an
asthma action plan
can help both of you learn what you need to know.
Also, stress these two key concepts with your child:
- Your child should take controller medication as directed,
even when he or she is feeling well.
- You should keep rescue medication on hand, no matter where
your child is.
You can help by prompting your child to take controller
medications and reminding him or her to take rescue medication
along when leaving the house. You can also help by making sure your
child doesn't run out of medicine.
Resist the temptation to adjust medication dosages above or
below the prescribed amounts. If you're noticing that your
child seems to be doing better or worse, talk with the doctor about
whether changes are needed. Also be sure to talk with the doctor if
side effects are a concern. He or she may be able to adjust the
dosage or prescribe a different medication.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: May 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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