To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: United Kingdom Approves Symbicort Turbohaler (Budesonide/Eformoterol) for Asthma in Adolescents Twelve and Older URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2150EE.htm Doctor's Guide April 15, 2002
LONDON, ENGLAND -- April 15, 2002 -- Symbicort Turbohaler® (budesonide/eformoterol) from AstraZeneca has been granted a license in the United Kingdom for use in adolescents (age 12 years and older), providing healthcare professionals with a highly effective, adjustable treatment option. "Any doctor or nurse treating teenage asthma patients will tell you of the difficulties they face," commented Dermot Ryan, MD a member of the General Practice Airways Group.
"Teenagers just want to get on with their lives and are sometimes reluctant to come to the surgery. This is a maintenance treatment that can make a real difference to asthma patients and help them get on with their everyday activities. Because of the dosing flexibility, the dose of Symbicort can be adjusted with ease, from one to four inhalations per day (1) in accordance with their asthma self-management plan, allowing patients aged 12 and above to manage the variations in their symptoms without always needing another visit to their doctor."
A trial carried out in adolescent patients with moderate asthma not fully controlled on inhaled corticosteroids alone showed that Symbicort compared to the equivalent dose of inhaled budesonide alone. Symbicort significantly increased symptom-free days (2), significantly reduced nighttime awakening due to asthma (2), and significantly increased asthma-controlled days (2).
The authors concluded Symbicort quickly improves control of adolescent asthma compared with inhaled corticosteroids alone. The rapid onset of action and early benefit of Symbicort on asthma control may increase adherence to therapy in this potentially difficult to treat patient group (2).
Symbicort is an advance in asthma management because it is a combination treatment in the same single inhaler that allows patients, in line with their doctor's advice, to adjust the dose of their maintenance treatment in response to the variable nature of their disease. The maintenance dose of the combination may be adjusted, within a range of one to four inhalations per day. As with other combination preventive therapies, patients will still require a "reliever" or "blue" inhaler.
Both strengths of Symbicort Turbohaler (Symbicort 200/6 and Symbicort 100/6) have been licensed for use in patients 12 years or older for the maintenance treatment of asthma where a long acting bronchodilator and inhaled corticosteroid is appropriate.
References:
(1) Symbicort 200/6 Turbohaler SmPC
(2) Tal A, Simon G, Vermeulen JH, et al. Poster presented at the European Society Conference, Berlin 22-26 September 2001.
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