Online appointments are best suited to non-emergency asthma symptoms, medication questions, or follow-up care. They aren't appropriate for a severe asthma attack.

Call 911 if you're having serious difficulty breathing or your quick-relief medication isn't improving your symptoms. Don't wait for an online appointment.

Asthma treatment aims to control everyday symptoms and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. Your treatment plan may depend on your symptoms, recent flare-ups, current medications, other health conditions, and how you've responded to previous treatment.

Controller and maintenance medications are used regularly to help prevent symptoms and asthma attacks. These may include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids: Budesonide (Pulmicort), beclomethasone (Qvar RediHaler), fluticasone, and mometasone
• Inhaled corticosteroid + long-acting beta agonist (LABA) combinations: Budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort) and fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair or Wixela)
• Leukotriene receptor antagonists: Montelukast (Singulair)
• Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs): Tiotropium (Spiriva Respimat), which may be added when other treatment isn't providing enough control

Quick-relief medications help open the airways when symptoms occur. These may include:

• Short-acting beta agonists: Albuterol (Ventolin) and levalbuterol (Xopenex)
• Combination relievers: Inhalers that contain an inhaled corticosteroid and a rapid-acting bronchodilator

Treatment for asthma flare-ups may include a short course of an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, when appropriate. These medications aren't generally used as routine long-term treatment.

Your provider may also discuss inhaler technique, asthma triggers, symptom monitoring, and an asthma action plan as part of your treatment.

Yes. During an online visit, a licensed healthcare provider can review your symptoms, treatment history, and current asthma medications. If appropriate, they can prescribe or refill asthma medication and send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy.

If you're specifically looking for an inhaler prescription or refill, learn more about online inhaler prescriptions and refills.

Have a list of your current medications and, if possible, the names and doses of any inhalers you use. Be prepared to discuss:

• How often your symptoms occur
• How often you use quick-relief medication
• Recent asthma attacks or urgent-care visits
• Possible triggers
• Previous asthma testing or treatment

You can also share any peak-flow readings or an existing asthma action plan.

Follow your prescribed treatment plan and use your medications as directed. It may also help to avoid known triggers, use your inhaler correctly, monitor changes in your symptoms, and follow an asthma action plan if you have one.

If your symptoms are becoming more frequent, waking you at night, limiting your usual activities, or requiring quick-relief medication more often, talk to a healthcare provider about whether your treatment needs to be adjusted.

A primary care provider can often evaluate asthma symptoms, manage ongoing treatment, and recommend appropriate testing.

Depending on your symptoms and needs, they may also refer you to a specialist, such as a pulmonologist (a doctor who specializes in lung and breathing conditions) or an allergist.

Sesame shows the price of each visit before you book. No insurance is needed for your appointment.

If you have health insurance, your plan may cover the cost of your medication.