Bronchodilators are medications that dilate (open up) the bronchial tubes to permit easier breathing and relieve symptoms.  There are short-acting bronchodilators that are used for quick relief of asthma symptoms (e.g., albuterol and trade names including Ventolin and Proventil HFA.) Most doctors instruct patients to use them as needed – the moment that asthma symptoms arise.  In children, brochodilators are sometimes used on a regular basis, because kids may not let their parents know when they are having symptoms.

Long acting bronchodilators (Serevent) keep the bronchial tubes dilated over many hours. Important to know, however, is that these medications may take a while (maybe an hour or so) to start working.  They should never be used for quick relief of asthma symptoms.  That is, they are prescribed as maintenance medications – they are taken daily without regard for the symptoms the patient is having at that particular moment.  Most of the asthma experts believe that this type of long-acting bronchodilator should be used in conjunction with daily anti-inflammatory medications, as well as a short-acting bronchodilator for quick relief.

Theophylline and lekotrience modifier are considered by some to be long-acting bronchodilators also, but have been used as the sole medication in some patients.