What to Ask Your Doctor About Asthma Medications

How to Get the Most out of Your Doctor Visits

  • What is the name and purpose of the medication?
  • When and how do I use it?
  • How much do I take?
  • Does it involve using another medical device such as a holding chamber, spacer or nebulizer? If yes, how do I use and clean the device?
  • What changes in symptoms can I expect when using the medication?
  • What are common side effects? What if the side effects happen to me? Are there other options?
  • How soon should I start noticing improvement in symptoms after using the medication? What do I do if symptoms don’t improve within that time period?
  • What should I do if I forget to take a dose of medication?
  • Where should the medication be stored (i.e., in the refrigerator to keep it cool or in a place to avoid humidity, heat, or cold)?
  • Are there any foods, medications, alcohol, sunshine or other things I should avoid while using this medication?
  • How will this medication affect other medical conditions I have?
  • When should I schedule a follow-up visit for further evaluation?

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Last updated : 12/11/2020

What to Ask Your Doctor About Asthma Medications originally published by Allergy & Asthma Network - Asthma

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