Overview Therapeutic strategies for treating asthma are via decreasing inflammation increasing sympathetic tone There are 7 families of drugs that are commonly used: corticosteroids β-agonists muscarinic antagonists methylxanthines cromolyn antileukotrienes omalizumab β-agonists Drugs short acting -- may use during acute exacerbation albuterol (β2) levalbuterol (β2) terbutaline metaproterenol (β2, minor β1) isoproterenol (nonselective) tachycardia may lead to cardiac death long acting -- use in prophylaxis only salmeterol (β2) tremors, arrhythmia formoterol (β2) Mechanism beta-2 receptors are activated on bronchial smooth muscle to achieve bronchodilation stimulation of adenylyl cyclase leading to closing of calcium channels and ultimately the relaxation of smooth muscles