But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. Everyone with asthma needs a quick-relief medicine to stop asthma attacks. Many people also need a preventive medicine, or controller, every day to protect the lungs and keep asthma attacks from starting. Make sure you have a written treatment plan from your doctor and understand how to follow it.
Preventive medicine makes the swelling of the airways in the lungs go away.
Preventive medicines for asthma are safe to use every day. You will not become addicted to preventive medicines for asthma, even if you use them for many years. You wake up at night because of asthma. You have many asthma attacks. You have to use quick-relief medicine every day to stop asthma attacks.