Types of medicine
What Is a Bronchodilator? Reliever Inhalers Explained
Bronchodilator · say it: BRONG-koh-dy-LAY-terAlso written: reliever, reliever inhaler, rescue inhaler
Short answer
A bronchodilator is a medicine that relaxes the muscles around the airways so they open wider and breathing becomes easier.
What it means
A bronchodilator widens the airways (bronchi) by relaxing the muscle around them. Many are inhaled. Some act quickly and are used to relieve symptoms (often called reliever or rescue inhalers), while others last longer and are used every day to keep airways open in conditions such as asthma and COPD.
The word appears on labels and leaflets to explain what the medicine does and how it fits with other inhalers. Labels may warn that needing a reliever more often than usual can be a sign that the condition is getting worse and needs review, and that some bronchodilators can cause a fast heartbeat or shakiness.
Bronchodilators are different from inhaled steroids (corticosteroids), which calm inflammation in the airways over time rather than opening them quickly. Many people use both, sometimes in one combined inhaler.
Where you may see it
- Inhaler labels and leaflets, under 'What this medicine is used for'
- Asthma and COPD action plans
- Hospital discharge summaries listing inhalers
📄 How it looks on a report
A short-acting bronchodilator should be used to relieve acute symptoms.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A bronchodilator does not treat the underlying airway inflammation; that is usually the job of a preventer inhaler.
- Needing your reliever more often is not something to just put up with; it is a sign to get your treatment reviewed.
- Not every inhaler is a bronchodilator, so one cannot always replace another.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Bronchodilator”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acetaminophen
A pain reliever and fever reducer
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Amlodipine
a calcium channel blocker, a type of medicine that relaxes blood vessels
- Aspirin
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a platelet aggregation inhibitor
- Carbamazepine
a mood stabilizer, and an anticonvulsant (seizure) medicine, according to the label
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Hydrochlorothiazide
A thiazide diuretic, a type of medicine often called a 'water pill'
- Ibuprofen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a type of medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and fever
- Montelukast
A leukotriene receptor antagonist, a medicine that blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
- Naproxen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Bronchodilator” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “bronchodilator”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.