The major benefits of asthma controller medications are to:
avoid asthma attacks which lead to:
emergency room/urgent care/doctor's office visits
missing school for children/adolescents and caregivers missing work
discomfort due to cough and difficulty breathing
more use of medications (albuterol and usually higher doses of steroids)
allow children/adolescents to be physically active
exercise is good for all from both a physical and mental health perspective
prevent nighttime awakenings
leads to feeling tired at school the next day
parents often also lose sleep providing care
Every medication has potential for side effects. Anyone telling you otherwise is not correct.
That being said, I prescribe asthma medications in situations where I believe the benefits of taking the medication easily outweigh the potential side effects. In most situations, medications we use provide great benefits to health with minimal risks of side effects.
This list of potential side effects is not all encompassing as some side effects are extremely rare (<1%).
Albuterol/Levalbuterol: tremor (usually shaky hands), increased heart rate/palpitations (feeling of heart racing), chest pain, anxiety, hyperactivity, headache, vomiting, worsening airway swelling if used excessively and without a controller medication
Inhaled steroids also known as ICS (fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone, beclomethasone): oral thrush, fatigue, joint pain, headache, rash (especially around mouth if using a spacer with mask), vomiting, decreased adult height (about 0.4 inches total)
Inhaled long-acting beta agonists also known as LABAs (salmeterol, formoterol, vilanterol): headache, stomach pain/discomfort
Tiotropium (Spiriva®): dry mouth, chest pain, headache