Combination Therapy with Budesonide and Formoterol in Single Inhaler of Asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay of asthma therapy, but there is now compelling evidence that addition of a long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist, such as formoterol, gives better control in terms of reduced symptoms, improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in patients with mild to severe persistent asthma than increasing the dose of corticosteroids in patients not fully in control by low dose. This has led to development of fixed dose combination inhalers such as budesonide/formoterol. Budesonide/formoterol combination in a single inhaler represents a safe, effective and convenient treatment option for management of patients with unstable asthma than inhaled steroid alone. This combination has shown effectiveness for both maintenance and rescue therapy. Clinical results show that the budesonide/formoterol by SMART approach prolongs the time to first severe asthma exacerbation, reduces frequency of exacerbation and maintains day to day asthma control at a reduced corticosteroid load and cost when compared with higher fixed maintenance dose of combination inhalers. With regular maintenance therapy by this approach it is more likely to improve patient compliance. Budesonide/formoterol combination inhaler has shown to have a faster bronchodialatory effect compared with other combination inhalers, a quality highly in demand during exacerbation episodes. Due to this rapid onset of action, budsonide/formoterol in a single inhaler lends itself to be used as a rescue medication, as well.