Back To Top
Browse
In the United Kingdom around 5.4 million people live with Asthma. Asthma is a chronic conditions that affects the airways.COPD is also a prevalent condition, especially amongst smokers.
Both Asthma and COPD can cause the airways to become inflamed, making it more difficult to breathe.
Whilst Asthma and COPD aren’t curable, they are treatable conditions. Treatment options such as preventer inhalers, reliever inhalers, combination inhalers.
In this article we’ll explore daily asthma medication, medications for an asthma attack and general tips and guidance regarding managing Asthma and COPD.
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects people of all ages, often first showing in childhood.
Asthma can cause inflammation and swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs.
During an asthma attack, airways become so inflamed that is becomes difficult to breathe
Symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and wheezing sound when breathing.
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is the name for a group of lung conditions.
COPD could refer to either:
Some symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, persistent chesty coughs and persistent wheezing.
Asthma and COPD share some symptoms, but their causes and progression differ. Asthma symptoms often include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, especially at night or after exposure to triggers. COPD symptoms, on the other hand, tend to develop gradually and include persistent cough, increased mucus production, breathlessness, and fatigue. Recognizing these symptoms early is essential for proper diagnosis and timely treatment with asthma and COPD medications to prevent complications.
Asthma symptoms often seems to worse at night or in the early morning. There also seems to be common triggers for asthma including exercise or pollen.
An asthmatic individual may suffer from an asthma attack. Asthma attacks are a severe manifestation of asthma symptoms. Asthma attacks can be life threatening, and asthmatics should take the necessary precautions against asthma attacks, such as always carrying an inhaler.
COPD symptoms usually get worse over time, although treatment can slow the progression of the disease.
There may be times when the severity of symptoms increases. This is known as a flare-up. Flare-ups most commonly occur during winter months.
Asthma attacks can be life-threatening and require immediate action. Patients should always carry their medication for asthma attack and understand how to use it correctly at the first sign of worsening symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, or breathlessness.
Using acute asthma attack medication such as a reliever inhaler helps relax the airway muscles and open the airways quickly, making breathing easier. If symptoms do not improve after repeated doses or continue to worsen, emergency medical help should be sought immediately. Prompt treatment reduces the risk of serious complications and ensures that asthma medications can work effectively.
Whilst asthma and COPD are related conditions, both causing swelling in the airways. The causes are different.
The exact causes of asthma are not known. However there are a number of inherited and environmental factors that can make an individual more likely to suffer from asthma. These factors include:
Asthmatics can also have certain triggers, which cause symptoms to worsen. Common asthma triggers include:
Those who suffer from asthma should work to understand there triggers and manage their condition appropriately.
The main cause of COPD is smoking. Smoking is thought to cause over 90% of cases of COPD. Passive (secondary smoking) can cause COPD.
There is also evidence that long exposure to certain chemicals can damage the lungs and increase the risk of COPD developing. Substances that have been associated with COPD include (but are not limited to):
There is also evidence that individuals are at increased risk of developing COPD if you’re living in areas with poor air quality, or if you’re genetically predisposed to developing COPD.
Fortunately with Meds for Less you can treat COPD safely and conveniently online. We stock a range of medications for COPD. The cost of COPD medications can be found in our Asthma and COPD category.
Asthma treatments can broadly be broken down into three categories:
| Colour | Type | Common Brands |
| Blue Inhaler | Reliver Inhaler: Blue inhalers are usually short-acting bronchodilators used to open airways. Reliver inhalers are often appropriate medication for asthma attack. | Ventolin |
| Brown Inhaler | Preventer Inhaler: Brown inhalers usually preventer inhalers. They are used regularly and contain a steroid which helps reduce inflammation of the airways. | Qvar, Clenil-Modulite, Pulmicort |
| Dark Pink / Purple Inhaler | Combination Inhaler: Pink inhalers contain two ingredients, a steroid and a long-acting bronchodilator. This helps reduce swelling and open airways. | Fostair, Seretide |
There are various medications for COPD and asthma, each designed to address different aspects of these respiratory conditions. Daily asthma medication and COPD daily medications help prevent inflammation and keep airways open, reducing the frequency of symptoms. Mild COPD medications focus on symptom management and lung function preservation, while medications for severe COPD provide stronger bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory effects to improve breathing.
For those experiencing allergy-induced symptoms, allergic asthma medication helps control immune responses and minimize attacks. Patients with frequent exacerbations may benefit from asthma prevention medication, which includes long-term inhalers and biologic therapies. Understanding the right medications to treat asthma and COPD is key to effective disease management and improved quality of life.
Incorrect inhaler technique is one of the most common reasons why medications to treat asthma and COPD fail to work effectively. Many patients do not inhale deeply enough or fail to hold their breath after activation, which prevents the medicine from reaching the lungs properly.
Patients should be shown how to breathe in slowly and deeply, hold their breath for a few seconds, and then exhale gently. After using steroid inhalers, it is important to rinse the mouth to reduce irritation and oral side effects. Correct technique ensures daily asthma medication and COPD inhalers deliver the full therapeutic dose and provide better symptom control.
For many patients, treatment begins with a doctor’s prescription. COPD prescription medications such as long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled steroids are crucial for long-term control. However, there are also some asthma medications over the counter and COPD over the counter medication available, typically including antihistamines, decongestants, or supportive therapies. These can help with mild symptoms but should never replace prescribed inhalers or preventer treatments. Patients should always consult a healthcare professional before switching between OTC and prescription therapies, as combining both may increase effectiveness and safety.
Not all patients require the same strength of treatment. People with early or stable disease may do well on medication for mild COPD or low-dose inhalers, while those with worsening symptoms often need stronger therapies. Medications for severe COPD include high-dose inhalers, oxygen therapy, or even biologic treatments. Likewise, asthma patients may need daily preventers or severe asthma medication if their symptoms remain uncontrolled. Understanding when to escalate treatment ensures the right balance between effectiveness and minimising side effects.
Avoiding triggers and staying protected against respiratory infections is essential for long-term control. Vaccinations such as the flu jab help reduce COPD exacerbations and improve outcomes for people using copd daily medications or asthma prevention medication.
Maintaining good hand hygiene, avoiding smoke and pollution, and following a consistent treatment plan can significantly lower the risk of flare-ups. These preventative steps support the effectiveness of asthma COPD medications and help patients maintain stable breathing over time.
Some individuals live with features of both conditions, often referred to as Asthma-COPD overlap. In these cases, medications for COPD and asthma must be carefully selected to address both airway inflammation and obstruction. Options may include asthma COPD medications that combine bronchodilators with steroids, or newer biologic drugs designed to target immune system pathways. For flare-ups, acute asthma attack medication and other medications to treat asthma and COPD are prescribed to rapidly open the airways and restore breathing. Coordinated treatment plans between patient and doctor are essential for long-term stability.
Whilst some asthma treatments may be available free on the NHS to those with a medical exemption certificate.
However for those looking for a quick, convenient and cost-effective service offers a range of inhalers and asthma treatments. The costs of some common asthma lines are:
At Meds for Less we stock lots of other treatments for Asthma and COPD, a full list of prices can be found in our Asthma and COPD category.
Regular use of daily asthma medication helps keep airway inflammation under control and prevents unexpected flare-ups, even when symptoms seem minimal. Skipping treatment can increase the risk of sudden attacks.
While some asthma medications over the counter may help relieve mild allergy symptoms, they cannot replace prescribed inhalers that directly treat airway inflammation and obstruction.
Treatment often begins with medication for mild COPD when breathlessness starts affecting daily activities. Early intervention helps preserve lung function and slow disease progression.
Acute asthma attack medication is designed to work rapidly to open narrowed airways during an emergency, whereas long-term inhalers focus on prevention and control.
Asthma COPD medications often contain both bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents, providing broader airway support for people with overlapping features of both conditions.
| Cookie | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
| cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
| viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |