From the Guidelines
Mometasone-formoterol inhaler is best used for the treatment of asthma in patients 5 years and older who need both an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist for control, as recommended by the 2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines 1.
Key Points
- This combination medication is not appropriate as a rescue inhaler for acute symptoms but serves as a maintenance therapy for persistent asthma that is not adequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids alone.
- The typical dosing is 2 inhalations twice daily (morning and evening), with available strengths of 50/5 mcg, 100/5 mcg, or 200/5 mcg of mometasone/formoterol per actuation.
- Patients should rinse their mouth after use to prevent oral thrush.
- Mometasone provides anti-inflammatory effects by reducing airway inflammation, while formoterol relaxes airway smooth muscles for bronchodilation lasting up to 12 hours.
- This combination is not indicated for COPD and should not be used to treat acute bronchospasm or status asthmaticus.
- Patients should continue to have a separate rescue inhaler available for sudden symptoms, as recommended by the guidelines 1.
Important Considerations
- The use of mometasone-formoterol inhaler should be based on the individual patient's needs and response to treatment, as well as their age and adherence to treatment 1.
- The guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to escalating asthma therapy, with consideration of the use of single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) in certain steps of care 1.
- The combination of mometasone and formoterol has been shown to be effective in reducing asthma symptoms and improving lung function, and is a recommended treatment option for patients with persistent asthma 1.
From the Research
Conditions Treated by Mometasone-Formoterol
Mometasone-formoterol is used to treat various respiratory conditions, including:
- Asthma: Mometasone-formoterol is indicated for daily maintenance therapy in patients aged ≥12 years with persistent asthma 2
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Although not FDA-approved for COPD, studies have shown that mometasone-formoterol can improve lung function and is well-tolerated in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD 3, 4
Key Benefits
The use of mometasone-formoterol has been associated with:
- Reduced asthma deteriorations and improved lung function in patients with persistent asthma 2
- Improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in patients with COPD 3, 4
- Similar adverse event profiles compared to other treatments, such as inhaled corticosteroids alone 3
Patient Preferences
Patient preference studies have shown that: