


This combination inhaler may make it easier to take the medication than using. Addition to inhaled corticosteroids of long-acting beta2-agonists versus anti-leukotrienes for chronic asthma. Combination inhalers contain two medications normally given in separate inhalers, a longacting beta 2 agonist (LABA), which is a bronchodilator that widens the tubes in the lungs, and a steroid which helps control the underlying inflammation in the lungs.
Combination steroid and lama inhaler plus#
Serious asthma events with fluticasone plus salmeterol versus fluticasone alone. Safety of regular formoterol or salmeterol in adults with asthma: an overview of Cochrane reviews. Meta-analysis: effect of long-acting beta-agonists on severe asthma exacerbations and asthma-related deaths. Salpeter SR, Buckley NS, Ormiston TM, Salpeter EE. Regular treatment with salmeterol for chronic asthma: serious adverse events. The Salmeterol Multicenter Asthma Research Trial: a comparison of usual pharmacotherapy for asthma or usual pharamacotherapy plus salmeterol. Nelson HS, Weiss ST, Bleecker ER, Yancey SW, Dorinsky PM SMART Study Group. In children, long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids can delay growth slightly, but the benefits of using these medications to maintain good asthma control generally outweigh the risks. Future studies should focus on medium-risk and high-risk patients with asthma in whom fatal attacks are an uncommon but consistent threat, and for whom the potential benefit may be meaningful. Regular use of inhaled corticosteroids helps keep asthma attacks and other problems linked to poorly controlled asthma in check. This is consistent with the finding that low-risk patients with asthma-the AUSTRI population-experience no meaningful benefit from LABAs. Had doses been higher in the steroid group, the benefit for mild attacks might have disappeared. Careful readers may also note that LABAs slightly reduced mild attacks however, steroid doses were identical in the groups. Hospitalizations are often unaffected by LABAs (see efficacy results above) and may not correlate with asthma deaths.
Combination steroid and lama inhaler trial#
The AUSTRI trial investigators' conclusion that LABA/steroid combinations are safe based on equivalent hospitalization rates is questionable. They may also be at higher risk of a fatal attack, making LABAs tricky. However, those with more symptoms may benefit more. Symptom benefits with LABA/steroid therapy were small, typically 0.5 fewer pumps per day of a rescue inhaler and about 10% more symptom-free days, with no quality-of-life advantage.
