Responding to approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the combination asthma inhaler, Symbicort, for people with mild asthma Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“The approval of Symbicort a combination asthma inhaler that contains an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator, demonstrates a new use for previously available asthma medication.
“This approval is based on evidence, which shows people with mild asthma could be prescribed a Symbicort inhaler, without needing to be prescribed a separate reliever and a preventer inhaler first.
“We know that for most people asthma symptoms and asthma attacks are set off by inflammation in the airways of the lung. Although reliever inhalers (typically blue) do help hide the symptoms for a short time, they do not treat the inflammation that causes the symptoms in the first place. A low preventer dose of inhaled corticosteroid helps dampen down the inflammation and makes symptoms and asthma attacks less likely.
“There are some inhalers licensed for use in asthma where a single inhaler can be used as both a preventer and a reliever (MART, Maintenance and Reliever Therapy). This is because they contain both an inhaled corticosteroid with another medicine that opens up the airways quickly. When someone with asthma take this inhaler to manage their symptoms, they are also treating the hidden inflammation. Not all preventer inhalers can be used in this way so speak with your clinical team if you are unsure.
“This new approval from the MHRA means people with mild asthma could be prescribed both a preventer and a reliever inhaler, where previously people would not normally be prescribed an inhaler containing two medicines. Research shows that by focussing on the inflammation, people with asthma will experience fewer symptoms and asthma attacks.
“This recommendation is already included in international asthma guidelines. When UK clinical guidelines are next reviewed for people with asthma, it's important this evidence is considered and if applicable added to current guidelines, so clinicians feel confident prescribing the Symbicort inhaler in this way.”