Budesonide/formoterol: fixed combination therapy simpler for asthma?

A fixed combination of budesonide and formoterol offers the option of a long-acting β₂-agonist and a corticosteroid in 1 inhaler for patients with asthma. Combination therapy has become popular of late in the treatment of asthma, as it can provide a simpler dose schedule with fewer devices. The addition of a long-acting β₂-agonist is advocated for patients with moderate asthma who are poorly controlled on inhaled corticosteroids. There is evidence to suggest that this addition is preferable to increasing the corticosteroid dose, because inhaled corticosteroids have associated adverse effects including decreased bone mineral density and candidiasis. Having both drugs in a single inhaler may also enhance compliance. Several studies were presented at the 10th Annual European Respiratory Society Congress/1st World Congress on Lung Health [Florence, Italy; August-September 2000] that further support the use of budesonide/formoterol in children and adults with asthma which is poorly controlled by an inhaled corticosteroid.