What is the difference between rescue medicine and preventive/controller medicine?
If your child has asthma or asthma-related breathing problems, you may be familiar with rescue (sometimes called “quick relief”) medicines, like albuterol or oral steroids, which are used to provide fast relief from sudden asthma symptoms that accompany attacks. But, rescue medicines are not meant to be used every day. Controller (sometimes called “preventive” or “maintenance”) medicines, when used as prescribed, help prevent asthma symptoms and attacks on an ongoing basis. Some work to keep the underlying inflammation caused by asthma from getting worse. It’s important to remember, though, that because controller medicines aren’t rescue medicines, they should not be used to treat sudden symptoms.
