Asthma inhalers come in all shapes, names, and especially colors. But those colors don’t always mean the same thing everywhere. You might think a blue inhaler always brings quick relief, but that’s not true in every country. Some places follow color traditions, while others don’t follow any system at all.
That’s why a new idea called the “U dot” system is gaining attention. It uses simple colored dots to clearly show what each inhaler does, no matter the brand or location. It’s clear, consistent, and easy to understand.
In this article, you will learn about the different types of asthma inhalers, their colors, and how this new system could help.
| 🔑 Key Takeaways ➤ Blue is commonly used for reliever inhalers, especially in the UK, Canada, and Australia, but not everywhere follows this rule. ➤ Brown is often linked to preventer inhalers, though some may come in orange, yellow, or red depending on the brand. ➤ Green inhalers are usually used for long-term symptom control, and many people recognize green as a sign of steady relief. ➤ Yellow inhalers are sometimes used for anticholinergics, but there is no global standard for this color. ➤ Black is proposed for long-acting anticholinergics in the new U dot system, though it’s not yet widely used. ➤ Combination inhalers often use colors like red, pink, or purple, but these can be unclear without extra visual clues. ➤ The U dot system aims to fix these issues by assigning each medicine type a consistent color, no matter the brand or country. |
Color-Coding and Standardization Issues
Across the globe, asthma inhalers often follow color-based traditions—but the lack of a universal standard can cause confusion. In the US, there’s no official system for inhaler color coding. This creates a challenge for patients trying to identify their medications quickly and correctly.
In contrast, other regions like the UK, Canada, and parts of Europe often use blue for relievers and brown for preventers. But even in these places, the system isn’t consistently applied across all medications and brands. The same drug might appear in different colors depending on the manufacturer.
To help solve this, there’s a proposal about a universal system using “U dots”—small colored circles placed directly on inhalers. These dots would represent medication types in a consistent, easy-to-recognize way, regardless of country or brand. Each color is carefully assigned to a specific drug category:
- Blue: Beta-agonists (relievers)
- Brown: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), used as preventers
- Green: Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs)
- Yellow: Anticholinergics
- Black: Long-acting anticholinergics
So, what about red? The authors included red in the system, but not for current use. Instead, they suggested that red should be “kept in reserve”—set aside for possible future medications or classifications that may arise. It’s a smart move that leaves room for growth without crowding the current structure.
One of the most useful features of the U dot system is how it handles combination inhalers—those that contain two active ingredients. In these cases, the dots would overlap. For instance, an inhaler containing both a reliever and a steroid would have a blue and brown dot side-by-side or partially merged. Other examples include:
- Green + Brown: LABA and corticosteroid
- Blue + Yellow: Beta-agonist and anticholinergic
These visual cues would make it easier for patients—and even healthcare providers—to identify what’s inside, no matter where the inhaler came from.
Accessibility was also part of the plan. The dots should be slightly raised so people with visual impairments can identify them by touch. They also introduced the idea of “U bands”—colored bands as an alternative or companion to U dots—for even more flexibility in design.
Types of Asthma Inhalers and Their Colors
| Inhaler Type | Common Purpose | Common Colors (Current Practice) | U Dot System Color |
| Reliever (Rescue) | Quick relief from asthma symptoms | Blue (esp. UK, Canada, Australia) | 🔵 Blue |
| Preventer (Controller) | Daily control of inflammation | Brown, Orange, Red, Yellow | 🟤 Brown |
| Symptom Controller | Long-term symptom control | Green | 🟢 Green |
| Anticholinergics | Relieve bronchospasm | Yellow (not standardized) | 🟡 Yellow |
| Long-acting Anticholinergics | Long-term airway relaxation | Black (proposed) | ⚫ Black |
| Combination Inhalers | Contain 2+ drug types (e.g., ICS + LABA) | Red, Pink, Purple, Dual-tone casings | Mixed (e.g., 🔵+🟤 or 🟢+🟤) |
Reliever (Rescue) Inhalers
Reliever inhalers—also known as rescue inhalers—are what many people with asthma rely on when symptoms suddenly flare up. If you’ve ever felt tightness in your chest, started coughing, or struggled to catch your breath, you know how important fast relief can be. These inhalers act quickly, opening up your airways in just minutes so you can breathe more easily.
Most of these quick-relief inhalers come in a blue casing. Over time, “blue inhaler” has become a familiar term, especially in the UK and other countries like Canada and Australia.
Nearly 90% of patients in a large UK survey said they usually refer to their reliever inhaler by its color. Only 11.3% said they never use color when talking about their inhaler. In the same survey, 95% of healthcare professionals (HCPs) said the blue color was important when referring to reliever inhalers. In fact, nearly half of them said color was their usual way to describe an inhaler to a patient. That’s more than those who used brand names or drug names combined.
Patients also voiced how helpful the color system is—not just for themselves, but for others who support them. Teachers, family members, and coworkers often recognize the blue inhaler as the one to reach for during an asthma attack. In the survey, nearly 80% of patients said they felt reassured knowing their blue inhaler was for relief, and 9 out of 10 agreed that blue should always mean a reliever.
Still, color alone isn’t enough. Around half of the patients said understanding what the medicine does is even more important than the color of the device. And for those with COPD, being clear on the purpose and name of their medicine mattered even more.
Preventer (Controller) Inhalers
You’ve probably heard of the “brown inhaler.” It’s one of the most common ways people describe their daily asthma medication. Preventer inhalers—also called controller inhalers—are often brown. But here’s the thing: not all of them are.
Depending on the brand or where you live, a preventer inhaler might be orange, yellow, or even red. For example, Clenil Modulite and Qvar usually come in brown. Flixotide Accuhaler is often orange. Some red inhalers, like the Flixotide Evohaler, are also preventers. With so many colors, it’s easy to see how people can get confused.
One review found that brown and blue inhalers are the ones people remember most. Why? Because they’re the ones handed out most often. People find it easier to say “my brown inhaler” than try to remember the exact name. It’s not just patients, either. Many doctors and nurses use color when talking to patients about their inhalers.
Symptom Controller Inhalers
Symptom controller inhalers—also called long-acting bronchodilators—are built for endurance. They help keep your airways open for hours at a time, making breathing easier throughout the day or night. These aren’t for sudden symptoms. Instead, they work slowly and steadily in the background.
You’ve probably seen them in green. That color is commonly used to represent this type of inhaler. In fact, green has become the unofficial signal for long-acting bronchodilators, especially in places like the UK. The idea is simple: green means long-term control.
Combination Inhalers
Combination inhalers are a smart, time-saving option for many people with asthma. Instead of juggling two separate inhalers, you get both a preventer and a controller—or sometimes a reliever—in one. These inhalers often come in colors like red, pink, or purple, and some may even use dual tones or overlapping design elements to reflect their mixed contents.
One of the challenges with combination inhalers is how to visually signal what’s inside. That’s where the idea of “U dots” comes in. As proposed above, inhalers could feature small, colored dots—or even bands—on the device to clearly show which types of medication it contains.
These overlapping or side-by-side dots would offer a quick, universal way for users to know exactly what they’re holding—no matter where the inhaler was made or what the outer casing looks like.
Final Words
Clearly, color coding is an important part of how people recognize asthma inhalers. Yet, the lack of a global standard means patients and healthcare providers often face confusion, especially during emergencies. Introducing a universal system, such as U dots, could address this challenge.
This approach would help users quickly identify the purpose of their inhalers, regardless of brand or region, by assigning consistent colors to each type of medication. The U dot system improves clarity and accommodates people with visual impairments through raised textures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to use a preventer inhaler every day?
Preventer inhalers (usually orange, yellow, or brown) stop asthma from flaring up. They reduce swelling in your lungs and work best when used daily, even if you feel okay.
What is a green inhaler for?
Green inhalers are symptom controllers. They help keep airways open for up to 12 hours. They don’t work fast, so they’re not for emergencies.
Can I share my inhaler with someone else?
No, never share your inhaler. Everyone’s dose and medicine are different, and sharing can spread germs.
What if my reliever (blue) inhaler isn’t working?
If the blue inhaler isn’t helping, you might need steroid tablets or liquid. These help with swelling but take about 4 hours to start working.
How do I know if my medicine is working?
Your doctor might do a breathing test called spirometry. It shows how open your airways are and helps track how well your medication is working.
Sources
- Jayakrishnan, B., & Al-Rawas, O. A. (2010). Asthma inhalers and colour coding: Universal dots. The British Journal of General Practice, 60(578), 690–691. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp10X515449
- Fletcher, M., Scullion, J., White, J., Thompson, B., & Capstick, T. (2016). Is the ‘blue’ colour convention for inhaled reliever medications important? A UK-based survey of healthcare professionals and patients with airways disease. NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 26, Article 16081. https://doi.org/10.1038/npjpcrm.2016.81
- Treated. (2021, October 21). What do the different asthma inhaler colours mean? https://uk.treated.com/blog/asthma/inhaler-colours