Asthma medications are commonly categorized into quick-relief medicines and long-term controllers.  Keep a quick-relief medicine with you at all times.  Take controller medicines, as prescribed, even when you are not having symptoms.

Learn the correct technique for using an inhaled medicine.  Note that the technique is not necessarily the same for all inhalers so each patient has to master the inhalation technique(s) that apply.

Over-the-counter asthma inhalers are not recommended.

Oral asthma medications are available in the reliever and preventive categories.

Allergic rhinitis medicines include prescription corticosteroid nasal sprays that are used for long-term control rather than quick relief.  An antihistamine and an anticholinergic nasal spray also are available by prescription.  Mastering the correct technique for using nasal sprays keeps the medicine from running out of the nose or down the back of the throat. 

Most non-drowsy oral antihistamines are available by prescription; some are available over-the-counter.  Some are combined with a decongestant for treating a stuffy nose while antihistamine alone treats nasal itching, sneezing, and runny nose.

Even OTC medicines have precautions and should not be taken if certain medical conditions exist; some should not be taken with certain prescriptions, other OTC medications, or with alcohol. Your pharmacist is a good resource when choosing over-the-counter medicines to treat nasal and eye symptoms. 

Limit use of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays so that rebound symptoms do not make your nasal condition worse.  Products such as Afrin give quick relief, but should not be used chronically. 

Asthma Medications

Commonly used asthma medications.  All asthma medications are not listed.
Inhaled quick-acting bronchodilators beta2-agonist relaxes tight muscles around the airways	albuterol	Proventil HFA Ventolin HFA albuterol HFA ProAir HFA	Always carry a quick-acting bronchodilator.  These medicines are for symptom relief.
	levalbuterol	Xopenex® HFA
Inhaled Anticholinergics may also have a beta2-agonist (Combivent)	ipratropium + albuterol	Combivent
	ipratropium	Atrovent
	tiotropium	Spiriva HandiHaler
Inhaled Antiallergy controllers	cromolyn nedocromil	Intal Tilade
Inhaled long-acting bronchodilators every 12 hours
	formoterol	Foradil Aerolizer
	salmeterol	Serevent Diskus	never to be used for quick relief
Oral long-acting bronchodilators	albuterol	VoSpire ER	every 12 hours
	theophylline
Inhaled Corticosteroids anti-inflammatory controllers used daily	beclomethasone	Qvar	Use, as prescribed, even if symptoms are not present. Rinse mouth after use. Do not swallow rinse water
	budesonide	Flexihaler
	flunisolide	Aerobid
	fluticasone	Flovent
	mometasone	Asmanex Twisthaler
	triamcinolone	Azmacort (with spacer)
Inhaled Dual Control corticosteroid + long-acting bronchodilator	fluticasone+ salmeterol	Advair
	budesonide+ formoterol	Symbicort Turbuhaler
Oral Leukotriene Antagonist Anti-leukotriene medicines modify one of the chemical mediators of asthma. These chemical mediators are called leukotrienes.	montelukast	Singulair
	zafirlukast	Accolate
	zileuton	Zyflo
Nebulized Medicines   The nebulizer creates a mist which is inhaled.   These meds fall into various categories as listed above.	albuterol	albuterol	quick-acting bronchodilator
	arformoterol	Brovana Inh Solution	long-acting bronchodilator
	budesonide	Pulmicort Respules	Corticosteroid Rinse mouth after use. Do not swallow rinse water.
	ipratropium	Atrovent Inh Solution	anticholinergic
	ipratropium+ albuterol	DuoNeb Solution	anticholinergic/bronchodilator
	levalbuterol	Xopenex	quick-acting bronchodilator

Allergic Rhinitis Medications

Commonly used allergic rhinitis medications.  All are not listed.
Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays anti-inflammatory controller medicines	beclomethasone flunisolide fluticasone	generics	Sniff gently.   Do not blow nose for 15 minutes after using nasal spray.   Alternate sides between each spray, if doing more than one spray in each nostril.
	budesonide	Rhinocort AQUA
	mometasone	Nasonex
	triamcinolone	Nasacort AQ
Antihistamine Nasal Spray	azelastine	Astelin
Anticholinergic Nasal Spray	ipratropium	Atrovent
OTC Decongestant Nasal Spray		Afrin is an example.	This category gives quick relief. However, limit the use of OTC decongestant nasal sprays to several days in a row. Chronic use leads to a rebound effect that worsens symptoms.
OTC Saline Nasal Spray			Saline nasal sprays can be used as needed.
Oral Antihistamines   non-sedating or low-sedating category	desloratadine	Clarinex/Reditab Clarinex Syrup	These are commonly prescribed oral antihistamines.  You also can get combination antihistamine and decongestant by prescription.
	fexofenadine	Tabs Allegra Suspension
	levocetirizine	Xyzal Tabs
	cetirizine loratadine	Zyrtec Claritin	These are now over-the-counter.