I know that my breathing passages are constricted during an asthma attack. Can I use any bronchodilator drug as a reliever to relax the airways?
Although relaxation of airways is needed in a severe asthma episode, some bronchodilators work too slowly to be of any immediate benefit. Short-acting beta2-bronchodilators such as albuterol, terbutaline, pirbuterol, and bitolterol work quickly to relax airway muscle that is in spasm and are, therefore, called “rescue” medications. Other bronchodilators such as long-acting beta2-bronchodilators, anticholinergic bronchodilators (ipratropium), and theophylline may be useful in the treatment of an asthma episode, but should not be used in place of short-acting beta2-bronchodilators for treatment of acute symptoms.
