Combination Formoterol And Budesonide As Maintenance And Reliever Therapy Vs Inhaled Steroid Maintenance For Chronic Asthma In Adults And Children

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 16 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Traditionally inhaled treatment for asthma has been considered as preventer and reliever therapy. The combination of formoterol and budesonide in a single inhaler introduces the possibility of using a single inhaler for both prevention and relief of symptoms (single inhaler therapy).

Extract from Implications for Practice

Single inhaler therapy can reduce the risk of asthma exacerbations needing oral corticosteroids or hospital admission in comparison with fixed dose maintenance inhaled corticosteroids. Guidelines and common best practice suggest the addition of regular long-acting beta2-agonist to inhaled corticosteroids for uncontrolled asthma, and single inhaler therapy has not been demonstrated to reduce exacerbations in comparison with current best practice, although results of five large trials are awaiting publication. Single inhaler therapy is not currently licensed for children under 18 years of age in the United Kingdom.

(CD007313) by Cates and Lasserson

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The Cochrane Library

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