OBJECTIVES: Cell phone text messaging reminders, via the Short Messaging Service (SMS), offers the promise of an efficient technology for the management of chronic diseases, such as asthma. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of text message reminders on adherence to asthma medication by comparing adherence among individuals who received text message medication reminders and those who did not.  METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify published studies. Literature search was restricted to English language and no restrictions were imposed on the year and country of publication. Medication adherence was the primary measure of intervention in eligible studies. Eligible studies had to have a control group, and had to assess the impact of text message reminders on medication adherence.   RESULTS: Of the 64 retrieved articles, 4 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Three of these studies were randomized control trials and one was a non-randomized control trial. Three of the studies found text message reminders improved medication adherence among individuals who received them when compared to those who did not.  CONCLUSIONS: This review adds to the body of literature reviewing the effectiveness of widely available and instant technologies in the management of disease. Our findings suggest that text message reminders can help improve medication adherence among individuals with asthma. Future studies are needed to strengthen the evidence on the effectiveness of text message reminders, patient accessibility to this technology, and its acceptance by health care providers.