Those taking asthma medications ?

What is the best asthma medication in your opinion and why?
Have you had weight gain or hair loss on it?
Have you tried any home treatments and if yes, what were they and did they help?Thanks in advance.

I personally use an Albuterol nebulizer in the morning and an inhaler when I'm away from home. My sister is on Advair 250/50 and is very well controlled with her symptoms. Neither of us have had any weight gain or hair loss from the medication. Traditional home treatments include drinking hot caffienated beverages such as tea or coffee. The caffiene acts as a bronchodilator easing breathing. Prednisone is the most common medication to cause weight gain and then only in long term use. I think that the combination of albuterol and ipatroprium (duoneb) is probably one of the best in nebulizer form, (combivent in inhaler form) as when you mix the two medications they sinergize or boost the efficacy of each other and will actually increase the amount of bronchodilitation by as much as 45% over using one of the drugs by it self. If you must use a steriod, try to use a corticosteroid as they work at the site of attachment in the lungs without systemic side effects.

Asthma medications. Where to start!! There are so many, and without knowing more about you, I'll give you a quick overview.

There are 3 types
Reliever: The blue/ grey ones like your Ventolin. These are a must! It makes your airways dilate (or get wider) to help you breathe.
This is what relieves you in an asthma attack and should be carried around with you. Side effects are rare, but can occur if you overuse (these effects can be increased heart rate, muscle tremor, restlessness).

Symptom Controller: These do the same kinda thing as the reliever, but is longer lasting. They need to be taken every day because they take longer to work, but stay in your system for longer.

Last, but not least, Preventer. These are a corticosteroid that reduce your bodies ability to respond to the trigger so that your airways don't become as inflamed. Once again, this has to be taken everyday so that the drug can build up in your body and be effective. Side effects can be wide and varied, so read up on them and monitor yourself. The most common is oral thrush, but if you rinse your mouth out after use and use the inhaler correctly (either with or without a spacer) this shouldn't happen.

best part is - there is combined drugs.
What I'm on is:
Ventolin for attacks, and a drug called Seretide for everyday 'prevention'. Its a little purple inhaler and is a combination of symptom controller and preventer. This will stop you from being so reliant on your Ventolin.

aaaaand - my asthma has improved dramatically since i have starting taking these.

To my knowledge there aren't many (if any) that cause hair loss and weight gain.

Home treatments like using a nebuliser during winter to moisten up your airways may help. Especially if you have a cold and are prone to asthma during this time.

Sorry this was so long!

Check out this link. It references asthma and the different medications associated with it.

I use singular it works so well for me and during sports as well, i dont even have to take my inhaler anymore.