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Inhalers, medications and treatment

The most common asthma treatments are inhalers. These deliver medicine directly to the airways where it is needed.

Preventer inhaler

A preventer inhaler is the most important way to treat asthma. It reduces swelling and inflammation in the airways.

Taking this every day as prescribed, even when well, reduces asthma symptoms and risk of an asthma attack.

Reliever inhaler

A reliever inhaler (generally blue in colour) relieves symptoms such as:

  • coughing
  • wheezing
  • breathlessness
  • chest tightness

If your asthma is well controlled, you shouldn’t need to use your reliever inhaler often or at all. Remember to always carry it with you in case your symptoms flare up.

Treatment changes

Several changes were introduced in 2024 for newly diagnosed asthma.

These include:

  • new inhaler pathways, which simplify treatment and reduce asthma attacks
  • encouraging greater use of anti-inflammatory reliever inhalers
  • patients being offered MART (one inhaler for daily use and symptoms) or AIR (as required for symptoms)
  • earlier anti-inflammatory treatment when symptoms start

Existing asthma patients will be offered the new treatment pathway.

Asthma and Lung UK has more information on asthma treatments.

What is AIR therapy?

Anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) therapy is where you use a combination inhaler containing two types of medicine:

  • a steroid anti-inflammatory medicine which treats the inflammation in your airways
  • a reliever medicine called formoterol which quickly opens up your airways when you get asthma symptoms or have an asthma attack

If you’re on an AIR-only treatment plan, you only use your anti-inflammatory reliever inhaler when you get asthma symptoms.

If your asthma is not well controlled using your AIR inhaler, you may need to move to a MART treatment plan.

See Asthma and Lung UK’s information on AIR (anti-inflammatory reliever) therapy.

What is MART therapy?

Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) is an asthma treatment plan where you use one combination inhaler twice a day and when symptoms occur.

A MART inhaler has been shown to lower the risk of asthma symptoms and attacks.

It does this by:

  • reducing inflammation in your airways
  • preventing asthma symptoms such as breathlessness and a tight chest
  • acting quickly to deal with symptoms or an asthma attack
  • lowering your risk of an asthma attack or flare up where you need high doses of steroid tablets.

There are several types of combination inhalers you can use on a MART treatment plan.

These may be:

  • dry powder inhalers (DPIs)
  • metered dose inhalers (MDIs)

If your medicine comes in an MDI inhaler, use a spacer. This helps the medicine get to your airways. It also lowers your risk of common side effects.

See Asthma and Lung UK’s information on Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART).

The aim of this Asthma treatment is to help you stay symptom-free. You should attend your GP surgery for annual review to: