Making the most of your asthma medications

Tracking symptoms and side effects and adjusting your treatment based on changes is key to keeping your asthma symptoms under control. With your health care provider, create a written detailed plan for taking long-term control medications and for managing an asthma attack. Then follow your plan.

Know when to adjust your medications, when to see your provider and how to recognize an asthma emergency. If your provider has prescribed a peak flow meter to measure how well your lungs are working, use it according to your plan. Even if you feel well, take your medications as prescribed and track your symptoms until you talk to your provider.