Long-Acting Beta-Agonists: Long-Term Control Medications
Long-acting beta-agonists open the airways in the lungs by relaxing smooth muscle around the airways. They do not decrease swelling in the lungs and are often used with inhaled steroids as a long-term control medication to open the airways in people with moderate to severe asthma, or other chronic lung disease.
Serevent®, a common long-acting beta-agonist, is not a quick-relief medication. Read more about Serevent® (Salmeterol) .
Common long-acting beta-agonists include:
- Foradil® (formoterol)
- Serevent® (salmeterol)
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- Opens the airways in the lungs by relaxing smooth muscle around the airways
- Does not reduce inflammation in the airways
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- Available as MDI, dry powder inhaler
- Usually prescribed to take 2 times a day
- Do not take it more often than prescribed
- Serevent is not a quick relief medicine and should not be taken to relieve asthma symptoms
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This information has been approved by David Tinkelman, M.D. (February 2006).
