How to choose your asthma inhaler?

Steroid asthma maintenance drugs such as Pulmicort Turbo are still considered better than on-demand Symbicort Turbo for long-term asthma control . Symbicort Turbo is a better choice when emergency control of sudden asthma attacks is needed. In this article you may know about asthma inhaler.

Common asthma inhalers include Bricanyl (terbutaline), Pulmicort (budesonide), and Symbicort (budesonide/ formoterol ). Check your inhaler label to find out what ingredients are in it.

New research from the Firestone Respiratory Health Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Hamilton shows that Bricanyl (terbutaline), an on-demand inhaler commonly used to relieve asthma symptoms, is inferior to other medications in managing asthma. The one-year study, which involved nearly four thousand participants, found that on-demand Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol) and Pulmicort ( budesonide ) inhalers were superior to Bricanyl in improving long-term asthma control and reducing the risk of asthma exacerbations.

Long-term asthma control

Studies have also show that the best long-term asthma control is achieve with the maintenance medication Pulmicort (budesonide). Which is usually take twice daily, whether or not you have symptoms. Pulmicort controls asthma inflammation with an inhaled steroid.

Dr. Paul O’Brien , a researcher at the Firestone Institutes and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University , is the lead author of the transformative study, which is published in the May 17 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine and is expect to significantly impact the way doctors prescribe medications to asthma patients in Canada and around the world.

The study focused on how people use (or don’t use) their asthma medications, including both as-needed and maintenance inhalers. Poor adherence to maintenance medications is one of the main factors that increase the risk of asthma exacerbations, as is failure to treat underlying inflammation.

“People use their inhalers when they need them, but adherence to regular preventer medication when they feel well is very poor, and in mild asthma , patients feel well most of the time,” said Dr. O’Brien. “We found that replacing the as-needed Bricanyl inhaler with Pulmicort Turbo substantially reduced the risk of asthma exacerbations without having to rely on maintenance medications.”

These findings are important because many people with mild asthma will experience an asthma attack at some point in their lives that requires urgent control. Symbicort contains a small amount of budesonide to help control exacerbations, and these people may not be able to achieve this control because of low adherence to maintenance medications.

Steroidal asthma maintenance medications such as Pulmicort Turbo are still consider superior to as-need Symbicort Turbo for long-term asthma control.

Dr. O’Brien will present the findings at the American Thoracic Society’s International Meeting, May 17-23 in San Diego .

Innovative research technology

A major strength of the study was the use of digital inhaler monitors in participants to keep accurate inhaler usage logs. The Smartinhaler™ platform, designed and manufactured by Adherium, connects to the cloud to record inhaler usage and can send reminders to patients to take their medication on time. This technology is design to improve patient adherence to treatment plans, especially for children.

“Adherium is a great example of how innovators are using technology to benefit overall patient health,” said Dr. Gail Martin, executive director of St. Joe’s Research Institute. “We have devices that log exercise, track weight, and more. In the future, doctors won’t have to ask, ‘Are you taking your medications on time?’ — they can see for themselves.”

“When it comes to respiratory health, all roads lead to Flint ,” said Dr. Martin Kolb, director of research at the Flint Institute. He noted, “Large-scale breakthrough research like this has helped put Hamilton on the map in respiratory health, and our researchers are still making progress today.”

St Joseph’s Research Institute in Hamilton oversees the work of more than two hundred researchers and their teams, including the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health.

Summarize:

Steroidal asthma maintenance medications such as Pulmicort Turbo are still consider superior to as-needed Symbicort Turbo for long-term asthma control.

Symbicort is a better choice when urgent control of sudden asthma attacks is need.

German version, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, Pulmicort Turbuhaler powder inhaler, single-ingredient treatment for asthma, low side effects, budesonide powder inhaler, 200 inhalations per bottle, 0.2 mg per inhalation