Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications are often used to treat the mild persistent asthmatic that is triggered by allergies, exercise, cold air, or sulfur dioxide (air pollution). It blocks early and late-phase allergy-caused symptoms if used before allergen exposure.

Inhaled non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines:

• Help prevent release of chemical mediators from the mast cell
• Block both the early and late asthmatic response to allergy and exercise triggers
• Prevent and control airway inflammation
• Improve morning peak flow
• Decrease the need for rescue medications
• Prevent acute episodes of asthma if used before exposure to allergens - especially exercise and air pollution

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications must be used 15 minutes before exposure to allergy or exercise triggers. Because of the number of mast cells that line the airways, it may take four to six weeks before significant changes occur in the control of year-round asthma symptoms, although the inflammation and/or swelling is reduced within three days.

Side-Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Possible side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications include headache or dizziness, stomachache, nausea or vomiting, and/or throat irritation. Drinking flavored juice or sucking on a flavored candy before or after use can avoid a bad taste in your mouth. (Make sure the candy is not in your mouth or the child's mouth before breathing the medicine into the airways.) Using a short-acting inhaled beta2-agonist first, may prevent coughing and occasional wheezing.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Brands

There are two brands of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories:

• Cromolyn sodium (Intal®)
• Nedocromil (Tilade®)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines come in an inhaled form.