Home Conditions Asthma

Asthma — what to take?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, with variable obstruction and bronchial hyperreactivity. Symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, chest tightness.

5 recommended OTC drugs
5,363 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for asthma

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Medical body content is still in Romanian:

Types

Allergic (extrinsic) — triggered by allergens (pollen, dust, mites, animal dander). Non-allergic — exercise, infections, cold air, stress, medications (NSAIDs, beta-blockers).

Diagnosis

Spirometry with bronchodilator testing (reversibility >12% FEV1), variable PEF, methacholine provocation test.

Prescription treatment (control steps)

Maintenance treatment (controller):

  • Inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide, fluticasone, beclomethasone).
  • LABA + ICS combinations (Seretide, Symbicort, Trelegy).
  • Leukotriene antagonists (montelukast).
  • Anti-IgE, anti-IL5 — biologicals, for severe forms.

Rescue treatment (reliever):

  • SABA — salbutamol (Ventolin), terbutaline.

OTC adjuvants

  • Vitamin D3 — many asthmatics are deficient.
  • Magnesium.
  • Omega-3 as anti-inflammatory.
  • Quercetin — a natural antihistamine.
  • N-acetylcysteine — thins secretions.

Do NOT use: aspirin, NSAIDs (may trigger an attack), non-selective beta-blockers, oral decongestants.

Severe attack — warning signs

Severe dyspnoea, cyanosis, pulse >120, inability to speak complete sentences, PEF <50% predicted, no response to SABA — 112 is mandatory.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for asthma

Patients with asthma sometimes need medication outside regular hours — an acute flare-up, a cronic prescription that ran out, a stock gap. The per-city pages below list every 24/7 pharmacy with address, phone and verified opening hours.

For chronic prescription medication, check stock with your preferred pharmacy ahead of time — capped CANAMED prescriptions can run out between supply runs. Call before you go.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for asthma

Beyond the OTC adjuncts above, you can browse whole medicine and supplement categories, with prices compared across Dr. Max, Catena, Tei, HelpNet. CANAMED is the official ceiling price for prescription items. Category pages are in Romanian — the comparator works the same way for you.

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for asthma

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll see pharmacies sorted by distance with their opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. For overnight or weekend trips, switch on the 24/7 filter. For asthma some medicines need a prescription — make sure you have a valid one (electronic or paper) before you leave, to avoid wasted trips.

For chronic treatment, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and check prices on the comparator — OTC differences between chains can hit 20-40%, while CANAMED-capped Rx items have a fixed maximum but may carry promotions. If your treatment for asthma runs on a monthly script, schedule pickup a few days before you run out.

See also

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