Inhaled glucocorticoids are still the preferred medication for long-term
asthma control. The alternatives (e.g. gafirlukast) are to be used together
with steroid inhalation.
Short acting medications such as albuterol are non-steriod but may have more
effect on the heart. And they are not to substitute long-acting medicine
anyway.
The few non-prescription asthma medicines (e.g. Primatene) are epinephrine-
based, which is much worse on the heart...
