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What to do if…
your asthma suddenly worsens and your rescue inhaler is not helping

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Call 999 for an ambulance now and say that you are having an asthma attack and your reliever inhaler is not helping. Sit upright while you wait and follow the call handler’s instructions.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait to see whether worsening breathing problems settle by themselves.
  • Do not lie flat.
  • Do not drive yourself to A&E.
  • Do not take someone else’s medicine.
  • Do not guess extra doses without following your asthma action plan or instructions from the 999 call handler.
  • Do not stay alone if someone can safely remain with you.

What to do now

  1. Call 999 immediately. Say clearly that you are having an asthma attack and your reliever inhaler is not helping, then give your exact location.
  2. Sit upright in the position that makes breathing easiest. Try to keep your movements slow and limited.
  3. Keep your inhaler, spacer and personal asthma action plan beside you. Tell the call handler which inhaler you used, how many puffs you took and when you took them.
  4. Follow your personal asthma action plan and the 999 call handler’s instructions about using your inhaler again. Emergency doses differ between blue reliever inhalers and AIR or MART inhalers.
  5. Unlock the door if you can do so safely. Ask someone nearby to stay with you and direct the ambulance crew to you.
  6. If you remain unwell after 10 minutes and the ambulance has not arrived, follow the official emergency instructions for your type of inhaler or the directions given by the call handler.
  7. If your symptoms worsen, you become unable to speak clearly or the ambulance has still not arrived after further inhaler use, call 999 again.

What can wait

You do not need to identify the trigger, measure your peak flow, contact your GP, arrange an asthma review or decide whether your regular treatment needs changing right now. Those steps can wait until emergency help has addressed your breathing.

Important reassurance

Calling 999 is appropriate when an asthma attack is worsening and the reliever inhaler is not helping. You do not need to decide how severe it might become before asking for emergency help.

Scope note

This guide covers the earliest emergency steps only. After the immediate episode, a healthcare professional may advise prompt follow-up and a review of your inhalers and personal asthma action plan.

Important note

This is general health information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for emergency medical assessment. Follow instructions from the 999 call handler, ambulance clinicians and other healthcare professionals involved in your care.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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