Abstract
This review highlights a growing literature regarding the safety of long-acting beta-2 agonists as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids. Two studies have demonstrated a mortality increase with use of long-acting beta-2 agonists in asthmatic patients. They were not well controlled and thus raise the question of whether this mortality increase was the result of using long-acting beta-2 agonists as monotherapy or whether there is some rare susceptibility to an untoward effect of this class of medicine. When inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 agonists are used in combination, prospective studies demonstrate improvement in asthma control and exacerbation rate. Two studies showed an increase in asthma mortality with long-acting beta-2 agonists, but they allowed beta-2 agonists to be used as monotherapy and did not address the safety of their appropriate use in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids. Although the majority of asthmatic patients appear to benefit from the use of long-acting beta-2 agonists, a small subclass may be prone to deleterious effect. It is uncertained whether this is some rare susceptibility to these drugs, or, more likely, that this is the consequence of monotherapy with long-acting beta-2 agonists controlling the signs and symptoms while masking inflammation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.