A patient with chronic severe asthma is most likely to be prescribed which medication?

In patients with chronic severe asthma, long-term control of symptoms and prevention of asthma attacks are crucial. Salmeterol, a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA), is specifically designed for maintenance therapy in asthma management. It has a prolonged duration of action, which means it can provide symptom relief for up to 12 hours or more, making it suitable for regular use to help control chronic symptoms and reduce the frequency of exacerbations.

Short-acting beta-agonists like albuterol, Proventil, and Ventolin, while effective for quick relief of acute asthma symptoms, are typically used as rescue inhalers rather than for long-term control. These medications are beneficial during asthma attacks but do not address the underlying chronic nature of asthma when used alone. Therefore, Salmeterol is the preferred choice for a patient requiring sustained management of chronic severe asthma.