title: Budesonide/formoterol: a review of its use as maintenance and reliever inhalation therapy in asthma.
abstract: The use of combination budesonide/formoterol dry powder inhaler (Symbicort Turbuhaler) for both daily maintenance therapy and as-needed relief of breakthrough symptoms using a single inhaler is a new approach to asthma management that is indicated in patients with persistent asthma not adequately controlled by conventional regimens using reliever therapy with a short-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist alone. The administration of additional corticosteroid with each reliever inhalation in response to symptoms is expected to provide improved control of airway inflammation.Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduced the risk of severe asthma exacerbations compared with conventional regimens using a short-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist alone as reliever therapy in the majority of trials, while providing similar or better daily asthma control than higher fixed maintenance doses of budesonide or inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist combination therapy in patients with generally moderate to severe, uncontrolled, persistent asthma. The strategy offers the convenience of a single inhaler and simplifies treatment by providing immediate additional anti-inflammatory medication in response to asthma symptoms and immediate step-down when symptoms abate. The improved efficacy, with respect to exacerbation prevention, observed with budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy in all double-blind comparative trials was achieved with a lower mean daily dose of inhaled corticosteroid or with fewer daily inhalations of reliever medication. Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy was well tolerated with an incidence of adverse events similar to that with conventional regimens. Therefore, it offers a new approach to therapy in patients with uncontrolled, persistent asthma; providing improved efficacy with a lower overall drug load.
authors.affiliation: Wolters Kluwer Health | Adis, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lyseng-Williamson
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate