Treatment of acute asthma exacerbations

[Tracie Lynn]

The goal of asthma exacerbation treatment is to relieve symptoms and return patients to their best lung function. Treatment includes

Inhaled bronchodilators (beta-2 agonists and anticholinergics)
Usually systemic corticosteroids

(See also Asthma and Drug Treatment of Asthma.)
Patients having an asthma exacerbation are instructed to self-administer 2 to 4 puffs of inhaled albuterol or a similar short-acting beta-2 agonist up to 3 times spaced 20 minutes apart for an acute exacerbation and to measure peak expiratory flow (PEF) if possible. When these short-acting rescue drugs are effective (symptoms are relieved and PEF returns to