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If you've been prescribed a symptom controller it will act in a similar way to a reliever. Symptom controllers help to relax the tightened airway muscles that can cause asthma, but unlike a reliever, their effect lasts around 12 hours. Symptom controllers should never be used to replace a reliever. For immediate relief from asthma, or in an emergency situation, only use a reliever such as salbutamol or terbutaline.

Symptom controllers may be prescribed for people who are already on inhaled preventers but who are still:

• Experiencing symptoms
• Experiencing exercise induced asthma
• Experiencing night-time asthma

Always take your preventer, even when you're starting to feel better.

Although you will probably start to feel better after using your symptom controller, you should not stop or reduce your preventer medication without consulting your doctor.