For adults and children over 12 years who require both an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA), a combination device should be considered to deliver the drugs.
The guidance recommends GPs choose between combination treatment and separate devices, depending on the likelihood of adherence to the treatment and therapeutic need. Combination inhalers can be a cheaper option than separate inhalers too, said NICE.
Current evidence, supported by the British Thoracic Society, suggests that if a patient's asthma is poorly controlled using ICS, adding a LABA is more effective than increasing the ICS dose.
tom.ireland@haymarket.com
Nice Guidance
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