title: Differences in the pharmacodynamics of budesonide/formoterol and salmeterol/fluticasone reflect differences in their therapeutic usefulness in asthma.
abstract: Although the available inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta( 2)-agonist (LABA) combinations principally work in a similar fashion, they differ in several important ways, leading to different efficacy. The ICS/LABA combination product budesonide/formoterol can be used as both maintenance and reliever therapy, providing a fixed maintenance dose, which does not change, and replacing short-acting beta(2)-agonists as relievers thereby allowing intervention to address the underlying inflammation at the earliest sign of symptomatic worsening. This approach is not suitable for other combination products such as salmeterol/fluticasone. Here we review the pharmacological differences of budesonide/ formoterol and salmeterol/fluticasone that permit the use of budesonide/formoterol as both maintenance and reliever therapy.
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca R&D, Lund, Sweden. Bertil.E.Lindmark@ astrazeneca.com
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindmark
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019819:Budesonide; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol