Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the air passages, characterized by periods of breathing difficulties called asthma attacks or episodes. There are a number of stimuli that can trigger asthma. Certain medications can also give rise to asthma attacks.

People who have asthma are sometimes sensitive to certain medications. Some of the common medications that trigger asthma are Aspirin and other painkillers, Beta-blockers and Ace Inhibitors.

Sometimes people with asthma develop sensitivity towards aspirin because of a condition known as Samters’ triad – a combination of asthma, allergic reaction to aspirin and nasal polyps, which are small growths that inflame the lining of nasal passage.

Beta-blockers, such as Corgard, Inderal, Pindolol, Normodyne, etc, are common medicines prescribed for high blood pressure, heart diseases, and migraines headaches. These medications have been known to trigger asthma in some people.

Ace Inhibitors, medications used to treat high blood pressure, and heart disease, have been known to cause chronic, dry coughs that are sometimes called ‘asthma equivalent’. Thus, ACE inhibitors are not used as the preferred drug with asthmatic patients.

It is not necessary to stop taking these medications if they have never triggered asthma attacks in a patient. But discussion with a healthcare professional is necessary in case certain symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, are seen to occur in conjunction to the usage of these drugs.