Medication Manager: What you need to know about: Inhalers
Inhaled medications aim to reduce airway inflammation, improve airflow, and decrease or relieve shortness of breath. They are available as dry powders and as liquids that are delivered in metered doses in spray form. Some people require a short-acting medicine before exercise or during colds. Others require a long-acting medicine, which is usually taken twice daily. Finally, some people require a long-acting medicine once or twice daily, with short-acting medicines in between doses.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.
With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!
Already a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
