What if Kids Don't Take Their Asthma Medicine? One of the best ways to help kids manage asthma — besides avoiding triggers — is to make sure they take their medicine as prescribed by the doctor. Kids need to take these medicines as directed, even when they feel fine. The effect of skipping medicine will vary depending on what kind of medicine it is. What if My Child Skips a Dose of Long-Term Control Medicine? Long-term control medicines work over time to keep airways clear and prevent asthma symptoms. They're usually taken daily. Skipping a dose of long-term control medicine (also called controller or maintenance medicine) might seem to have no immediate or dramatic effect, but over time this can let airways get more irritated, especially if a child comes in contact with a trigger. Skipping doses can put a child at risk for an asthma flare-up, or attack. Make sure your child always takes long-term control medicine as directed to help prevent flare-ups. What If My Child Skips a Dose of Quick-Relief Medicine? Quick-relief medicines work immediately to handle the symptoms of asthma flare-ups when they happen. These medicines often are inhaled directly into the lungs. Within minutes, they open up the airways and relieve symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Not taking quick-relief medicines (also called rescue or fast-acting medicines) during an asthma flare-up can be very harmful. A child might not be able to take a deep breath, and the airways can continue to tighten until the child must go to the ER. Make sure your child always has quick-relief medicine handy in case of an emergency. Getting Kids Involved Involving kids in their asthma care will help them take their medicines on time, every time. Explain how the medicines work and how much your child must take. Having an asthma action plan can help both of you learn what you need to know. It's also important to stress these two key concepts to kids: They should take their long-term control medicines as directed, even when feeling well. They must keep their quick-relief medicine on hand, no matter where they are. You can help by reminding your child to take the long-term control medicine as directed and to carry the quick-relief medicine when leaving the house. Also make sure that you don't run out of medicine. Back to Articles Related Articles Asthma Medicines Asthma medicine comes in two main types: quick-relief and long-term control medicines. Even if a child takes a long-term control medicine regularly, quick-relief medicine is still needed to handle flare-ups. Read More Asthma Center Visit our Asthma Center for information and advice on managing and living with asthma. Read More Asthma Center Asthma means breathing problems. Find out what's going on in the lungs and how to stay healthy, if you have it. Read More My Asthma Inhaler Doesn't Help. What Can I Do? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More What's the Difference Between a Nebulizer and an Inhaler? Inhalers and nebulizers are tools that help you get asthma medicine into the lungs. Find out how to use them. Read More How Can I Deal With My Asthma? Asthma is more common these days than it used to be. The good news is it's also a lot easier to manage and control. Read More What's an Asthma Action Plan? An asthma action plan is a written plan that helps you take control of your asthma. Get the details in this article. Read More How Do Asthma Medicines Work? Kids who have asthma need to take medicine. But what kind of medicine do they take and what does it do? Let's find out. Read More What's an Asthma Action Plan? Find out how this written plan can help you care for your child with asthma. Read More Asthma Center Asthma keeps more kids home from school than any other chronic illness. Learn how to help your child manage the condition, stay healthy, and stay in school. Read More When to Go to the ER if Your Child Has Asthma If your child has asthma, find out when you need to go to the ER. Read More Asthma Asthma makes it hard to breathe. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Asthma Asthma makes it hard to breathe. But with treatment, the condition can be managed so that kids can still do the things they love. Learn all about asthma. Read More Asthma Asthma is a lung condition that makes it hard to breathe. Learn all about asthma here. Read More Managing Asthma Asthma control can take a little time and energy to master, but it's worth the effort. Learn more about ways to manage your child's asthma. Read More Handling an Asthma Flare-Up How can you prepare for an asthma flare-up? Find out in this article for kids. Read More How Do Asthma Medicines Work? Two different types of medicines are used to treat asthma: long-term control medicines and quick-relief medicines. Read about how they work, and why people might need to take them. Read More What's an Asthma Action Plan? If you have asthma, you'll want to have an asthma action plan. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.