Both short-acting 2-agonists (SABAs) and long-acting 2-agonists (LABAs) play importantbut differentroles in asthma management.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
What Do 2-Agonists Do?
SABAs work quickly and are used to haltasthma attacksand otherasthma symptomsright away.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
The most common SABA is albuterol.
SABAs are often called rescue inhalers.
LABAs are daily medications used to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Studies show they can:
LABAs are also used to preventexercise-induced asthma.
LABAs aren’t used alone, though.
They come incombination medicationsthat also include aninhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
In addition to asthma, both SABAs and LABAs are used to treatchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
ICSs, however, are powerful anti-inflammatories.
Scientists later found that the plant contains ephedrine.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Effectiveness
2-agonist medications are considered highly effective at relieving symptoms of asthma.
Modern 2-agonists are the result of more than a century of intensive research into asthma treatments.
SABAs provide almost instant relief of symptoms, but the effect only lasts for between four and six hours.
If symptoms flare, you simply need to take an additional dose of the ICS or ICS+quick-acting LABA.
Once a week, rinse your inhaler’s plastic case and allow it to dry completely.
Don’t submerge the cartridge in water or use cleaning products on your inhaler.
Treatment Additions and Alternatives
SABAs are first-line treatments when it comes to rescue inhalers.
Barisione G, Baroffio M, Crimi E, Brusasco V.Beta-adrenergic agonists.Pharmaceuticals (Basel).
2010;3(4):1016-1044.
Published 2010 Mar 30. doi:10.3390/ph3041016
Billington CK, Penn RB, Hall IP.2 Agonists.Handb Exp Pharmacol.
2017;237:23-40. doi:10.1007/164_2016_64
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.AAAAI allergy & asthma medication guide.
Cleveland Clinic.Bronchodilators & asthma.
PulmCCM.Major asthma guideline update: ICS-LABA as-needed replaces albuterol.
