Asthma diagnosis	Quick relief*		Long-term control		Medication	Price†
Step 4; severe, persistent	Short-acting bronchodilator as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of exacerbation, using either: • Inhaled short-acting beta2 agonist by nebulizer or spacer/holding chamber and face mask or • Oral beta2 agonist		Daily anti-inflammatory medications: • High-dose inhaled corticosteroid with spacer/holding chamber and face mask and • If needed, add systemic corticosteroids (0.25 to 2 mg per kg per day) and reduce to lowest daily or alternate-day dosage that stabilizes symptoms.‡		Oral corticosteroids
					• Methylprednisone (Medrol), 2-mg tablet	$ 44.00 for 100 tablets
					• Prednisolone
					(Prelone syrup), 5 mg per 5 mL	15.50 per 120 mL
					(Pediapred liquid), 5 mg per 5 mL	20.50 per 120 mL
					• Prednisone
					5-mg tablet	3.50 to 6.50 for 100 tablets
					(Deltasone), 5-mg tablet	4.50
					(Intensol), 5 mg per mL liquid	31.00
Step 3; moderate, persistent	Short-acting bronchodilator as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of exacerbation, using either: • Inhaled, short-acting beta2 agonist by nebulizer or spacer/holding chamber and face mask or • Oral beta2 agonist		Daily anti-inflammatory medications, either: • Medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid with spacer/holding chamber and face mask or, once control is established • Low- to medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid and nedocrimil (Tilade) or • Low- to medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting bronchodilator (e.g., either long-acting, inhaled beta2 agonist or theophylline SR)		Long-acting beta2 agonist
					• Salmeterol
					(Serevent MDI)	42.00
					(Serevent Diskus DPI)	43.50
					• Albuterol SR
					(Volmax tablet)	83.00 for 100 tablets
					(Proventil Repetabs), 4-mg tablet	77.50 for 100 tablets
					• Salmeterol/Fluticasone
					(Advair diskus) 100 μg/50 μg	104.00
					250 μg/50 μg	130.00
					500 μg/50 μg	177.00
Step 2; Mild, persistent	Short-acting bronchodilator as needed for symptoms. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of exacerbation, either: • Inhaled, short-acting beta2 agonist by nebulizer or spacer/holding chamber and face mask or • Oral beta2 agonist		Daily anti-inflammatory medications: •Cromolyn (nebulizer preferred, or MDI) or nedocromil (MDI), 3 to 4 times daily or • Low-dose inhaled corticosteroid with spacer/holding chamber and face mask		Cromolyn (Intal) inhaler	47.00
					Nedocromil (Tilade) inhaler	36.00
					Inhaled corticosteroids
					• Beclomethasone
					(Beclovent MDI), 42 μg per puff	45.00
					(Vanceril DS MDI), 84 μg per puff	42.00
					• Budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler DPI), 200 μg per puff	19.00
					• Pulmicort Respules, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg	126.00 for 30 tablets, either strength
					• Flunisolide (AeroBid MDI), 250 μg per puff	63.00
					• Fluticasone (Flovent), 44 μg per puff	47.00 (13-g canister)
					(Flovent) 220 μg per puff	95.50 (13-g canister)
					• Triamcinolone (Azmacort MDI), 100 μg per puff	53.00
					• Theophylline
					200 mg	5.50 to 10.50 for 30 tablets
					300 mg (SR)	7.50 to 12.50 for 30 tablets
					450 mg (TR)	8.50 for 30 tablets
					Antileukotrienes
					• Zafirlukast (Accolate), 10-mg tablet	62.00 for 100 tablets
					• Montelukast (Singulair), 10-mg tablet
						71.00 for 30 tablets
					4- or 5-mg chewable tablet	73.00 to 83.00 for 30 tablets
					• Zileuton (Zyflo Filmtab), 600-mg tablet	91.00 for 120 tablets
Step 1; mild, intermittent	Short-acting bronchodilator as needed for symptoms <2 times per week. Intensity of treatment depends on severity of exacerbation, using either: • Inhaled, short-acting beta2 agonist by nebulizer or spacer/holding chamber and face mask or • Oral beta2 agonist		No daily medication		Short-acting inhaled beta2 agonist
					• Albuterol
					(Airet nebulizer), 2.5 mg per 3 mL	$49.50
					(Proventil-HFA MDI), 90 μg per puff	41.00
					(Ventolin Rotacaps DPI), 200 μg per puff	32.00
					• Bitolterol (Tornalate MDI), 0.37 μg per puff	46.00 (15-mL canister)
					• Levalbuterol (Xopenex nebulizer), 1.25 mg per 3 mL	47.50
					• Pirbuterol (Maxair MDI),	13.00 (2.8-g inhaler);
					0.2 μg per puff	43.00 (25.6-g inhaler)