Quick-relief medicines-taken at the first signs of asthma symptoms for immediate relief of these symptoms. You will feel the effects of these medicines within minutes.
Long-term control medicines-taken every day, usually over long periods of time, to prevent symptoms and asthma episodes or attacks. You will feel the full effects of these medicines after taking them for a few weeks. People with persistent asthma need long-term control medicines.

Quick-relief medicines

Everyone with asthma needs a quick-relief or "rescue" medicine to stop asthma symptoms before they get worse. Short-acting inhaled beta-agonists are the preferred quick-relief medicine. These medicines are bronchodilators. They act quickly to relax tightened muscles around your airways so that the airways can open up and allow more air to flow through.

You should take your quick-relief medicine when you first begin to feel asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. You should carry your quick-relief inhaler with you at all times in case of an asthma attack.

Your doctor may recommend that you take your quick-relief medicines at other times as well-for example, before exercise.

Long-term control medicines

The most effective, long-term control medicine for asthma is an inhaled corticosteroid (kor-ti-ko-STE-roid) because this medicine reduces the airway swelling that makes asthma attacks more likely.

Inhaled corticosteroids (or steroids for short) are the preferred medicine for controlling mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. They are generally safe when taken as directed by your doctor.

In some cases, steroid tablets or liquid are used for short periods of time to bring asthma under control. The tablet or liquid form may also be used to control severe asthma.

Other long-term control medicines include:

Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists. These medicines are bronchodilators, or muscle relaxers, not anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used to help control moderate and severe asthma and to prevent nighttime symptoms. Long-acting beta-agonists are usually taken together with inhaled corticosteroid medicines.
Leukotriene modifiers (montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton), which are used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate or severe asthma.
Cromolyn and nedocromil, which are used to treat mild persistent asthma.
Theophylline, which is used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate persistent asthma. People who take theophylline should have their blood levels checked to be sure the dose is appropriate.

If you stop taking long-term control medicines, your asthma will likely worsen again. Many people with asthma need both a short-acting bronchodilator to use when symptoms worsen and long-term daily asthma control medicines to treat the ongoing inflammation.

Over time, your doctor may need to make changes in your asthma medicine. You may need to increase your dose, lower your dose, or try a combination of medicines. Be sure to work with your doctor to find the best treatment for your asthma. The goal is to use the least amount of medicine necessary to control your asthma.

Most asthma medicines are inhaled. They go directly into your lungs where they are needed. There are many kinds of inhalers, and many require different techniques. It is important to know how to use your inhaler correctly.

Asthma relief medications are also known as rescue medication. These kinds of medications are used to give relief on short term relief of asthma symptoms during an attack.

Asthma relief medications should be only be used under your doctor's recommendation. Do not use these medications more than what is prescribed to you but if the need to use these medications have dramatic increase, you should consult your doctor about your long term asthma medications.

Medications for asthma relief include:

Ipratropium - This medication is prescribed to give immediate relief of asthma symptoms. Ipratropium is typically used for chronic bronchitis and emphysema but this is also best used in asthma as it relaxes the airways and making the breathing much easier.
Short-acting beta-2 agonists - These are inhaled medications more commonly known as bronchodilators. These medicines temporarily relax the airway muscles within minutes it is puffed and the effects can last to 4 to 6 hours.
Oral and intravenous corticosteroids - These are medications which are used to treat severe asthma attacks. These medications ease the inflammation in the airways.

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids are only used for severe asthma attacks because they have side effects when used in long term.

Medications for allergy - induced asthma are:

Medications for allergy induced asthma are used to lessen the sensitivity of the body to a particular allergen. These are also used to help prevent severe reaction of your immune system from reacting towards to specific allergens that triggers your attack.

Some of the medications for allergy induced asthma include:

Anti-Age monoclonal antibodies. This medicine lessens the reaction of the immune system towards certain allergens. Example of Anti-IgE is omalizumab (Xolair). Xolair is injected to the person every 2 to 4 weeks.
Immunotherapy are allergy desensitization shots which are commonly administered once a week for couple of months then continued to once a month for 3 to 5 years. With continued administering of immunotherapy, the body's reaction to certain allergens will decrease.