This paper emphasises the strategies that can be used by general practitioners in the management of asthma and reviews the new medications available for the severe asthmatic population. The principles of asthma management involve the assessment of asthma severity and the assessment of risk factors. An effective review process entails: identification of immediate patient concerns; a review of symptoms; lung function; and detection of altered compliance. In the setting of poor compliance additional strategies can be applied. Three relatively new medications are available. Salmeterol (long acting beta 2 agonist) and fluticasone (inhaled corticosteroid) are for use in the small proportion of asthmatics who have severe asthma. Nedocromil sodium is a cromoglycate-like drug mainly suitable for treatment of milder asthmatics.