title: Are Seretide and Symbicort useful in COPD?
abstract: Seretide (fluticasone + salmeterol--Allen & Hanburys) and Symbicort (budesonide + formoterol--AstraZeneca) inhalers have recently been licensed in the UK for the symptomatic treatment of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a history of repeated exacerbations. Advertising for Seretide depicts a man and states that the drug "has improved his ability to breathe and reduced his risk of exacerbations", while promotional claims for Symbicort include benefits in "reducing symptoms" and "improving quality of life". Here we assess the place of these fixed-dose combination inhalers containing a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta 2 agonist in the management of patients with COPD.
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000730:Androstadienes; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D019819:Budesonide; D000420:Albuterol