Airsupra Should Not Be Used Daily
Airsupra is a rescue inhaler containing albuterol and budesonide that is specifically designed for as-needed use only, not for daily maintenance therapy. While you can safely continue dupilumab for your severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, you need to correct your Airsupra usage immediately.
Critical Misunderstanding About Airsupra
- Airsupra is FDA-approved exclusively for as-needed relief of acute asthma symptoms, not as a daily controller medication 1
- Taking Airsupra daily represents inappropriate use that could mask worsening asthma control while exposing you to unnecessary side effects from the albuterol component
- If you feel you need daily rescue medication, this indicates your asthma is inadequately controlled and requires immediate reassessment of your maintenance therapy
Dupilumab Is Your Appropriate Daily Therapy
Dupilumab 300 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks is the correct daily maintenance treatment for your conditions 2:
- Dupilumab significantly improves nasal polyp scores, nasal congestion, smell function (UPSIT), quality of life (SNOT-22), sinus CT scores (Lund-Mackay), and asthma control (ACQ scores) 2
- It also improves lung function (FEV1) with a mean difference of 0.21 liters compared to placebo 2
- The combination of dupilumab with intranasal corticosteroids (like mometasone) provides optimal benefit for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps 2, 3
What You Should Actually Be Taking Daily
Your daily regimen should include 2:
- Dupilumab 300 mg subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks - this is your primary biologic therapy
- Intranasal corticosteroid spray (such as mometasone 100 μg in each nostril twice daily) - this was the standard background therapy in all dupilumab trials 2
- Regular controller asthma medication if prescribed (such as inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist combination)
When to Use Airsupra
- Only use Airsupra when you experience acute asthma symptoms (wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness) 1
- If you need Airsupra more than twice per week for symptom relief, your asthma is not adequately controlled 1
- Dupilumab should reduce your need for rescue medications and oral corticosteroids over time 2
Important Safety Considerations
Do not stop or adjust your asthma medications without physician supervision 1:
- Patients with comorbid asthma must not adjust or discontinue their asthma treatments independently while on dupilumab 1
- Reduction in corticosteroid doses must be done gradually under medical supervision to avoid withdrawal symptoms 1
- Dupilumab does not treat acute asthma symptoms or exacerbations - you still need appropriate rescue medication for acute episodes 1
Contact Your Healthcare Provider Immediately
You need to discuss your current medication regimen because daily use of a rescue inhaler signals inadequate disease control. Your provider should evaluate whether your maintenance therapy needs optimization or if you're using dupilumab correctly at the appropriate intervals.