Asthma drug combinations do work

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 26 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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A study suggesting that one type of asthma medication may counteract the benefits of another and should not deter people from taking their prescribed medicines, say experts at the National Asthma Campaign.

Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, suggested that Albuterol (Sambutamol) may contribute towards reversing the effect of inhaled steroids in some people with asthma. Professor Williams Ameredes of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine said that his findings indicated that Sambutamol may diminish the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of steroids.

Salbutamol is a short-acting beta agonist drug often used in combination with inhaled steroids to treat asthma. Usually delivered via inhaler, it relaxes the airways almost immediately, making it easier to breathe.

Salbutamol is meant to be taken only occasionally, to relieve asthma symptoms; it does not treat the condition in the long-term. To do this, doctors often prescribe inhaled steroids, the effects of which build up over time to make the airways less sensitive and to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms.

Campaign experts emphasised that many people with asthma are prescribed combinations of medicines to help them control their condition, and should not stop taking their medication.

'These findings are related only to Salbutamol used in conjunction with inhaled steroids, and if you are using this combination then your asthma should be under control and you shouldn't actually need to take your reliever medicine very often, if at all,' said Katie Shepherd, the Campaign's care development manager.

'Anybody with asthma who has to use their Salbutamol every day or even several times a week should consider going back to their GP to discuss their medicines as this can be a sign of worsening asthma.'

Martyn Partridge, chief medical adviser to the National Asthma Campaign added: 'This sort of adverse interaction has been postulated before, and while the research is interesting there is no real evidence that this is a significant cause of worsening asthma at a clinical level.

'What is important is for those with asthma to have well-controlled disease so that use of short-acting relieving beta agonists is rarely needed.'

From: http://www.asthma.org.uk/news/news129.php

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