Quick-Relief Medicines
Also called: Rescue Medicines or Fast-Acting Medicines
Quick-relief medicines are a type of medicine used by people with asthma to relieve
asthma symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath) or to treat
an asthma flare-up. They act quickly to stop symptoms, but the effects aren't long
lasting.
Most are inhaled and work by relaxing the muscle around the airways (the tubes
that carry air into and out of the lungs), making the airways wider and allowing breathing
to become easier within minutes. They don't treat the underlying inflammation of the
airways — this can require daily treatment with other types of medicines called
long-term control medicines.
Some people with asthma rely only on rescue medications; others use a rescue
medicine with a long-term control medicine to help keep their asthma in check.
