From the Guidelines
A good rescue inhaler with a steroid is a combination inhaler like Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) or fluticasone plus salmeterol, as they have been shown to reduce exacerbations and improve lung function, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea 1. When considering a rescue inhaler with a steroid, it's essential to look at the combination of a corticosteroid for inflammation control and a long-acting β-agonist for quick relief.
- Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) is a commonly used option, with a typical dosage of 160/4.5 mcg, 1-2 inhalations twice daily.
- Another option is fluticasone plus salmeterol, which has been evaluated in several studies, including a Cochrane meta-analysis that found it reduced the number of exacerbations and improved lung function compared to long-acting β-agonist therapy alone 1. These combination inhalers work well for both immediate symptom relief and long-term control of respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma.
- The steroid component reduces airway inflammation, while the bronchodilator quickly opens airways during an exacerbation. It's crucial to note that traditional rescue inhalers like albuterol don't contain steroids and only provide short-term relief.
- For proper disease management, you should use these combination inhalers as prescribed and still keep a separate albuterol rescue inhaler for emergency situations. Always follow your healthcare provider's specific instructions regarding dosage and frequency, as the optimal treatment plan may vary depending on individual patient needs and responses to therapy 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The primary efficacy parameter, morning PEF, was collected daily for the first 12 weeks of the trial. The primary purpose of weeks 13 to 28 was to collect safety data Baseline PEF measurements were similar across treatments: fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder 500 mcg/50 mcg, 359 L/min; Morning PEF improved significantly with fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder 500 mcg/50 mcg compared with fluticasone propionate 500 mcg over the 12-week treatment period.
A good rescue inhaler with a steroid is fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder.
- It is used for the treatment of asthma and COPD.
- The medication contains a combination of a corticosteroid (fluticasone propionate) and a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (salmeterol).
- The use of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder has been shown to improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and decrease the need for rescue medication 2.
- However, it is essential to note that this medication should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as it may have side effects and interact with other medications.
From the Research
Rescue Inhalers with Steroids
- A good rescue inhaler with a steroid can be a combination of a fast-acting beta₂-agonist (FABA) and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in the same device, such as budesonide and formoterol 3.
- The use of a single combined FABA/ICS inhaler as needed can reduce exacerbations requiring systemic steroids and hospital admissions or emergency department visits compared to FABA alone 3.
- FABA/ICS as required may also reduce adverse events and total systemic steroid dose, and increase daily inhaled steroid dose 3.
- Another option is a combination of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol, which has been shown to be effective in reducing asthma-related exacerbations and rescue medication use compared to fluticasone propionate alone 4.
- Salmeterol/fluticasone pMDI has been compared to its mono-components, other LABA/ICS pMDIs, and salmeterol/fluticasone Diskus, and has been found to be effective and safe in patients with asthma 5.
- The use of a combination corticosteroid/β-agonist inhaler as reliever therapy may be a solution for intermittent and mild asthma, as it can provide rapid symptom relief and reduce the need for separate inhalers 6.