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Combination Therapy with Inhaled Long‐Acting β 2 ‐Agonists and Inhaled Corticosteroids: A Paradigm Shift in Asthma Management
Author(s) -
Stoloff Stuart,
PoinsettHolmes Kim,
Dorinsky Paul M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.22.3.212.33550
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , corticosteroid , inhaled corticosteroids , inhalation , b2 receptor , agonist , pharmacology , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , receptor , bradykinin
Long‐acting inhaled β 2 ‐Agonists and inhaled corticosteroids are classes of drugs with different mechanisms of action that are commonly used to provide effective long‐term control of persistent asthma. Scientific and clinical data support the complementary mechanisms of action of the inhaled corticosteroids and the long‐acting β 2 ‐Agonists in achieving a superior level of asthma control. In addition, evidence supports significant reductions in exacerbations and effective control of airway inflammation with an inhaled corticosteroid and a long‐acting β 2 ‐Agonist versus higher dosages of inhaled corticosteroids or combinations of other therapeutic agents with an inhaled corticosteroid. Finally, there are distinct economic advantages to combining an inhaled corticosteroid and a long‐acting β 2 ‐Agonist in the treatment of asthma relative to other treatment regimens.