Asthma and Airway Centre

Managing Asthma

An Action/Management Plan Based on Symptoms

(Your individual plan may be different.) Here is an example of a written Asthma Action Plan:

When your asthma is under control:

• Use your quick relief bronchodilator (one or two puffs of the reliever inhaler) only as needed.
  
  • Continue regular inhaled maintenance Controller/anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed (for example, two puffs of inhaled steroid twice daily).
    
• If you wake with wheezing at night, have a persistent cough or chest tightness, or you are requiring bronchodilator more than twice daily:
  
  • Add or double the dose of inhaled steroid for the number of days it takes you to feel well again (for example, two puffs four times daily).

Note: This does not apply to combination therapy Advair®. Your doctor will give you specific instructions if you are using Symbicort®.

• Continue on this increased dose for the same number of days.
  
• Return to your previous dose of maintenance treatment.
  
• If your bronchodilator only lasts two hours and you find your normal activities make you short of breath:
  • Start oral prednisone 40 mg daily and contact your physician. Continue to use this dose for the number of days required to feel well again.
  • Reduce oral prednisone to 20 mg daily for same number of days.
  • Stop prednisone.

Note: Prednisone does not have to be reduced/tapered for everyone. Take as prescribed.