Best treatments for asthma
36 products may treat asthma, spanning FDA drug classes such as mast cell stabilizer, corticosteroid, leukotriene receptor antagonist. The current highest-rated option is cromolyn sodium. Ranked below by our independent recall-safety rating (rated where FDA data exists) — not medical advice; always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 36 drugs we list for asthma, 23 are available as lower-cost generics, spanning classes such as mast cell stabilizer, corticosteroid, leukotriene receptor antagonist. They’re ranked by each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for asthma — so confirm the right choice with your prescriber.
Understanding asthma
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that affects the airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs (MedlinePlus/NLM; NHLBI). It commonly causes wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out), coughing (especially at night or early morning), chest tightness, and shortness of breath (MedlinePlus). The exact cause is unknown, but genetics and the environment likely play a role in who develops it (MedlinePlus). Symptoms can be set off or worsened by triggers such as pollen, dust mites, mold, cold air, viral infections, and exercise (MedlinePlus). Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts during childhood (NHLBI). To diagnose it, healthcare providers use medical history, a physical exam, and lung function tests such as spirometry, along with airway reactivity and allergy testing (MedlinePlus). There is no cure for asthma, but treatment and an asthma action plan can help manage the condition through monitoring, avoiding triggers, and using medicines (NHLBI). This is general information for a ratings site, not medical advice; talk with a licensed clinician about your situation.
First-line treatment
Modern first-line management, per the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), centers on inhaled-corticosteroid (ICS)-containing treatment rather than a quick-relief inhaler alone. GINA states that asthma in adults and adolescents should not be managed solely with a short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA), and that all adults, adolescents, and children aged 6-11 with asthma should be treated with ICS-containing therapy; treating asthma with a SABA alone is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death and exacerbations (GINA 2021 Executive Summary). For adolescents and adults, GINA identifies low-dose ICS-formoterol as the preferred reliever, noting that this approach reduces the risk of severe exacerbations compared with using a SABA reliever, while achieving similar symptom control and lung function (GINA 2021 Executive Summary). The specific inhaler, dosing, and step of therapy are individualized by the treating clinician based on symptom frequency, severity, age, and response. An asthma action plan and trigger avoidance are also part of standard care (NHLBI). This is general information, not medical advice.
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Top-rated picks for asthma: 1. Cromolyn Sodium · 2. Flunisolide · 3. Montelukast Sodium
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Class | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Mast Cell Stabilizer | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | Solution | Corticosteroid | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 3 | 72/100 | Prescription | Powder | Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist | No data | — | View → | |
| 4 | 72/100 | Prescription | Drops | Corticosteroid | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 5 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist | Generic | $19 | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | — | No data | — | View → | |
| 7 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Corticosteroid | Generic | $31 | View → | |
| 8 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Corticosteroid | Generic | $31 | View → | |
| 9 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | Interleukin-5 Antagonist | No data | — | View → | |
| 10 | 70/100 | Prescription | Solution | Corticosteroid | Generic | $1 | View → |
Narrow by drug class
Explore the class hubs: corticosteroid · beta2-adrenergic agonist · norepinephrine releasing agent · leukotriene receptor antagonist · interleukin-5 antagonist · mast cell stabilizer
Full ranking · 36 treatments
cromolyn sodium
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Cromolyn Sodium is a mast cell stabilizer used to treat Asthma, Bronchial Spasm, Conjunctivitis, Food Hypersensitivity.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.33· 3 formsflunisolide
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Flunisolide is a corticosteroid used to treat Asthma, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis.
Pharmacy pays
$1.88 /mL
Save up to 87% in classmontelukast sodium
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Montelukast Sodium is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used to treat Asthma, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis.
Price varies
pred forte
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Pred Forte (Prednisolone Acetate) is a corticosteroid used to treat Adrenal Insufficiency, Hemolytic Anemia, Asthma, Berylliosis.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.54· 5 forms Save up to 60% in classaccolate
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Accolate (Zafirlukast) is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used to treat Asthma.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$15.79/30· 2 formsexdensur
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Exdensur (Depemokimab-Ulaa) is a medication used to treat Asthma.
Price varies
- Methylprednisolone
- Methylprednisolone Acetate
- Nucala
- Pediapred
- Pred Mild
- Prednisone
- Serevent
- Xolair
- Ephedrine Sulfate
- Omnipred
- Medrol
- Prednisolone Acetate
- Depo-Medrol
- Akovaz
- Cinqair
- Corphedra
- Emerphed
- Fasenra
- Gastrocrom
- Omlyclo
- Orapred ODT
- Perforomist
- Proair Digihaler
- Proair Hfa
- Proair Respiclick
- Proventil-Hfa
- Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride
- Solu-Medrol
- Terbutaline Sulfate
- Tezspire
Frequently asked
- What treats asthma?
- Our catalog lists 36 products that may treat asthma, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists; the current top-rated option is cromolyn sodium.
- What is the best-rated treatment for asthma?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — cromolyn sodium ranks highest among the products we list for asthma. Always consult a professional.
- How are these treatments ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.
- What types of drugs treat asthma?
- Treatments for asthma span FDA drug classes including mast cell stabilizer, corticosteroid, leukotriene receptor antagonist, interleukin-5 antagonist, anti-ige. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.
Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.
Sources
The clinical overview above is written from these authoritative public-health and medical-society sources, independently reviewed against each.
- Asthma - What Is Asthma? — NHLBI (NIH) ↗
- Asthma — MedlinePlus (NLM) ↗
- Global Initiative for Asthma Strategy 2021: Executive Summary and Rationale for Key Changes — Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (PMC) ↗
- New: Global Initiative for Asthma 2021 Executive Summary on Asthma Management and Prevention — Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) ↗