Asthma Medication in Grand Rapids, MI

You and your healthcare provider in Grand Rapids can work together to create a personalized asthma action plan. This plan will outline which asthma medications you should use, how often to take them, and when to seek urgent care at local hospitals such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

Because West Michigan has cold, often damp winters and high-pollen springs and summers, many people in Grand Rapids notice that their asthma worsens seasonally. The right medication plan can help you stay active and healthy year-round.

What Is Preventer Asthma Medication?

Preventer (or controller) medication is taken regularly to:

  • Prevent day‑to‑day asthma symptoms
  • Reduce the risk of asthma attacks (flare‑ups)
  • Maintain good lung function
  • Improve your quality of life in all four seasons in Michigan

Reliever (or rescue) medication is different. Relievers are used when you have symptoms and need quick relief—for example, if you start wheezing while walking downtown Grand Rapids in cold air, or during spring pollen season.

Asthma Action Plans for Grand Rapids Patients

An asthma action plan is a written set of instructions prepared with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or asthma educator. It explains:

  • Which medications you should take every day
  • Which medication to use when symptoms start
  • What to do if your symptoms get worse
  • When to call 911 or go to a Grand Rapids emergency department

Do not change your (or your child’s) asthma medication without checking your written action plan or talking with your healthcare provider.

Everyone with asthma should have a written asthma action plan, no matter how mild symptoms seem. In almost all people, asthma can be well controlled with the right medication and correct inhaler technique.

Main Types of Asthma Medication

Asthma medications fall into several main categories:

  1. Preventers (Controllers)

    • Taken every day
    • Reduce swelling and mucus in the airways
    • Make the airways less sensitive to triggers like cold air, smoke, or pollen

  2. Relievers (Rescue Inhalers)

    • Used during an asthma attack or when symptoms start
    • Relax the tight muscles around your airways

  3. Combination Preventers

    • Contain 2 or 3 medications in one inhaler
    • Reduce inflammation and relax airway muscles

  4. Dual‑Purpose Relievers

    • Used as needed for symptoms
    • Provide quick relief and anti‑inflammatory action at the same time

  5. Add‑On and Injectable Medications

    • Used for more severe or difficult‑to‑control asthma
    • Often prescribed and monitored by specialists, such as pulmonologists in Grand Rapids health systems

If you have asthma, you should carry a reliever inhaler at all times, especially in winter when cold Michigan air can quickly trigger symptoms.

Daily Preventer Medication

Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)

The most effective preventers are inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). These medications:

  • Reduce swelling (inflammation) in the airways
  • Decrease mucus production
  • Make airways less sensitive to triggers like cold weather, dust, or pet dander

Key points:

  • Usually taken once or twice daily
  • Most adults and children can achieve good control with a low dose
  • Must be taken every day as prescribed, even if you feel well

There is also a preventer option in tablet form (such as montelukast), sometimes used for children and some adults when inhalers are difficult to use or as an add‑on.

Why Daily Preventers Matter in Michigan

In Grand Rapids, asthma may flare in:

  • Spring and summer – due to tree, grass, and weed pollen along the Grand River and local parks
  • Fall – due to mold and decaying leaves
  • Winter – due to viral infections and breathing very cold air

Daily preventer medication lowers your risk of severe flare‑ups during these high‑risk seasons. Never reduce your dose or stop your preventer without speaking with your doctor, allergist, or pulmonologist.

Any changes in your preventer dose should be written into your updated asthma action plan.

Reliever Medication (Rescue Inhalers)

Reliever medications contain a bronchodilator, which relaxes the tight muscles around your airways and opens them up. These are often short‑acting beta‑agonists (SABA).

Relievers are:

  • Used only when you have symptoms, such as wheeze, cough, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
  • Sometimes used before exercise, if recommended by your doctor—for example, before running on a cold day or playing sports at a Grand Rapids school

If you notice you need your reliever more than 2 days a week, this may mean your asthma is not well controlled. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or asthma specialist at a local clinic or health system.

Combination Preventer Inhalers

If an inhaled corticosteroid alone does not control your asthma, your doctor may prescribe a combination preventer. Sometimes these are prescribed right from the start for moderate or more severe asthma.

These inhalers usually contain:

  • An inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) – to reduce inflammation and sensitivity
  • A long‑acting bronchodilator – to keep airways open over many hours

Common long‑acting bronchodilators include:

  • Long‑acting beta‑agonists (LABA)
  • Long‑acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA)

Some newer inhalers include triple therapy:

  • ICS + LABA + LAMA

Triple therapy is often used:

  • When asthma is difficult to control
  • When asthma occurs along with another breathing condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema

Your pulmonologist in Grand Rapids (for example, at Spectrum Health or Metro Health) may recommend these if standard treatment is not enough.

Dual‑Purpose Reliever Medication

A dual‑purpose reliever is a combination inhaler used as needed to treat symptoms when they happen. It has two goals:

  1. Rapid symptom relief – from the bronchodilator
  2. Inflammation control – from the inhaled corticosteroid

This option is often prescribed for people with mild asthma, where symptoms are infrequent but can still become serious. Research shows that using this type of inhaler as needed can reduce the risk of life‑threatening flare‑ups.

Your provider will explain exactly how and when to use a dual‑purpose reliever and will include instructions in your asthma action plan.

Side Effects of Asthma Medications

All medications have the potential for side effects. It is important not to stop asthma medication suddenly without medical advice, as this can lead to a dangerous asthma attack.

Common Side Effects of Inhaled Preventers (ICS)

Possible side effects include:

  • Hoarse voice
  • Sore mouth or throat
  • Fungal infection in the mouth or throat (thrush)

You can reduce these risks by:

  • Rinsing and gargling your mouth with water after using your inhaler
  • Spitting the water out (do not swallow)
  • Using a spacer device if your inhaler is a metered‑dose inhaler (MDI)

Spacers are inexpensive and widely available at Grand Rapids pharmacies and clinics. They help deliver more medication to your lungs and reduce side effects.

Common Side Effects of Reliever Medications

Short‑acting bronchodilators (relievers) can sometimes cause:

  • Tremor (shakiness)
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Headache

These side effects usually go away quickly. Using a spacer can also help reduce unwanted effects.

Montelukast (Tablet Preventer) and Mood Changes

The only commonly used preventer tablet, montelukast, can in rare cases cause serious mood or behavior changes, especially in children.

Watch for:

  • Irritability or aggression
  • Nightmares or trouble sleeping
  • Sadness, withdrawal, or other unusual behavior

If your child in Grand Rapids is prescribed montelukast and you notice any change in mood or behavior, contact your doctor right away. Do not stop the medication without medical advice, but seek urgent guidance.

Don’t Stop Asthma Medication on Your Own

If you are worried about any side effects—for yourself or a child—talk with:

  • Your primary care provider
  • Your pharmacist
  • An asthma specialist or allergist

Stopping asthma medication suddenly can:

  • Increase your risk of a severe asthma attack
  • Lead to an asthma emergency that may require a 911 call or an ER visit

Most side effects can be managed or reduced with changes in dose, technique, or medication type.

What to Do During an Asthma Attack

During an asthma attack, follow your written asthma action plan step by step.

Asthma Emergency Steps

Call 911 immediately if:

  • Your reliever is not helping
  • You are struggling to speak in full sentences
  • Your lips or face look blue
  • You feel extremely short of breath or very distressed

Tell the operator that someone is having an asthma emergency.

While waiting for the ambulance:

  1. Sit the person upright and keep them calm.
  2. Give 4 separate puffs of a blue reliever inhaler (or the reliever you have) using a spacer if available.
  3. Take 4 breaths after each puff.
  4. Repeat every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives or symptoms improve.

If you use a different type of reliever inhaler (not blue), follow the instructions from your asthma action plan or training from an asthma first‑aid course.

Local Asthma Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or Kent County, you can access local support:

  • Primary Care & Clinics
    • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health clinics
  • Pediatric Asthma Care
    • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (pediatric pulmonology and allergy specialists)
  • Public Health Support
    • Kent County Health Department
    • Grand Rapids Public Health programs (education, vaccinations, air quality information)

Ask your provider about:

  • Asthma education programs
  • Inhaler technique training
  • Smoking cessation support (if you or someone in your home smokes)
  • Allergy testing for pollen, dust, mold, or pet dander

Key Points About Asthma Medication in Grand Rapids

  • Preventer medication is the main treatment to keep asthma under control and must be taken every day.
  • Reliever medication is used when you have symptoms and need rapid relief.
  • Your asthma action plan tells you exactly how and when to use each medication.
  • Relievers can sometimes be used before exercise, if recommended by your doctor.
  • If you need your reliever more than 2 days per week, your asthma may not be well controlled—schedule a visit with your doctor.
  • In an asthma emergency in Grand Rapids, call 911 and follow your written asthma action plan while waiting for help.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and have questions about your asthma medication, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or an asthma specialist at one of the local health systems. Early, consistent treatment is the best way to stay active and breathe easier in every Michigan season.