Medication	Dosage	Onset of action	Duration	Comments	Cost of generic (brand)*
Short-acting beta2agonists
Albuterol	90 mcg per spray; two puffs 15 minutes before exercise and as needed	Five to seven minutes	Three to six hours	First-line prevention of acute asthma	90 mcg per actuation, 17-g inhaler: $29 to $58 (NA) †
Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)	45 mcg per spray; two puffs 15 minutes before exercise and as needed	Five to 10 minutes	Three to six hours	First-line prevention of acute asthma; similar to albuterol in safety and effectiveness, but more expensive	Box of 24
						1.25 mg per 3 mL vials: NA ($123)
						0.63 mg per 3 mL vials: NA ($136)
						0.31 mg per 3 mL vials: NA ($121)
Pirbuterol (Maxair)	200 mcg per spray; one or two puffs 15 minutes before exercise and as needed	Five minutes	Five hours	First-line prevention of acute asthma; not available as generic; more expensive than albuterol	200 mcg per actuation, 14-g inhaler: NA ($146)
Long-acting beta2agonists
Formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer); combination budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort)	Aerolizer: 12 mcg per capsule; one spray twice per day	One to three minutes	12 hours	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroid	Aerosol: 60 12-mcg capsules: NA ($176)
	Metered-dose inhaler: 4.5 mcg per spray; two puffs twice per day				Inhaler
						80/4.5 mcg per actuation aerosol, 10.2-g inhaler: NA ($196)
						160/4.5 mcg per actuation aerosol, 10.2-g inhaler: NA ($230)
Salmeterol (Serevent Diskus); combination fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair Diskus or HFA)	Diskus: 50 mcg per blister; one puff twice per day	30 to 48 minutes	12 hours	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroid	Serevent Diskus (60 doses)
						50 mcg per dose powder inhaler: NA ($178)
					Advair Diskus (60 doses)
						100/50 mcg per dose aerosol: NA ($186)
						250/50 mcg per dose aerosol: NA ($216)
						500/50 mcg per dose aerosol: NA ($286)
	HFA: 21 mcg per puff; two puffs twice per day				Advair HFA
						45/21 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12-g inhaler: NA ($198)
						115/21 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12-g inhaler: NA ($231)
						230/21 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12-g inhaler: NA ($296)
Mast cell stabilizers
Cromolyn (nebulizer solution)	20 mg per 2 mL; 20 mg taken 10 to 60 minutes before exercise or 20 mg four times per day	Less than one week	Unknown	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	120 vials: 20 mg per 2 mL: $190 (NA)
Inhaled corticosteroids
Beclomethasone (QVAR)	40 or 80 mcg per spray; one to four puffs twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	40 mcg per actuation, 8.7-g inhaler: NA ($110)
					80 mcg per actuation, 8.7-g inhaler: NA ($132)
Budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler)	90 or 180 mcg per spray; two puffs twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	90 mcg per actuation aerosol inhaler: NA ($122)
					180 mcg per actuation aerosol inhaler: NA ($160)
Ciclesonide (Alvesco)	80 or 160 mcg per spray; one or two puffs twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	80 mcg per actuation aerosol, 6.1-g inhaler: NA ($166)
					160 mcg per actuation aerosol, 6.1-g inhaler: NA ($167)
Flunisolide	250 mcg per spray; one or two puffs twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	250 mcg per actuation aerosol, 7-g inhaler: NA ($98)
Fluticasone (Flovent Diskus or HFA)	Diskus: 50, 100, or 250 mcg per blister; one or two puffs twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	Diskus (60 doses)
						50 mcg per blister aerosol inhaler: NA ($115)
						100 mcg per blister aerosol inhaler: NA ($116)
						250 mcg per blister aerosol inhaler: NA ($155)
	HFA: 44, 110, or 220 mcg per spray; two puffs twice per day				HFA
						44 mcg per actuation aerosol, 10.6-g inhaler: NA ($120)
						110 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12-g inhaler: NA ($153)
						220 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12-g inhaler: NA ($247)
Mometasone (Asmanex)	110 or 220 mcg per spray; one or two puffs, divided, once or twice per day	One week	Variable	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	60 metered doses
						220 mcg per inhalation aerosol, 0.24-g inhaler: NA ($168)
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
Montelukast (Singulair)	Six to 14 years of age: 5 mg per day or two hours before exercise 15 years and older: 10 mg per day or two hours before exercise	Two hours	24 hours	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma and allergic rhinitis	30 5-mg tablets: NA ($157)
					30 10-mg tablets: NA ($152)
Zafirlukast (Accolate)	Five to 11 years of age: 10 mg twice per day, one hour before or two hours after meal 12 years and older: 20 mg twice per day, one hour before or two hours after meal	Unknown	12 hours	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	60 10-mg tablets: NA ($90)
					60 20-mg tablets: NA ($90)
Zileuton, extended-release (Zyflo CR)	Older than 12 years: 1,200 mg twice per day	Two hours	12 hours	Second-line prevention of chronic asthma	120 600-mg tablets: NA ($610)
Anticholinergics
Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA)	17 mcg per spray: two to four puffs, 15 to 30 minutes before exercise and as needed	15 minutes	Two to four hours	Third-line prevention of acute asthma	17 mcg per actuation aerosol, 12.9-g inhaler: NA ($172)