With nearly one in 10 Pennsylvania patients suffering from asthma, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made new recommendations about one of its more popular treatments: Long-acting beta agonists, also known as LABAs.
LABAs like Serevent and Foradil should not be used alone to treat asthma but should only be used in combination with another controller medication, like an inhaled corticosteroid, the FDA said.
There are several drugs on the market that combine an LABA and a corticosteroid, including Advair and Symbicort. Pediatric and adolescent patients should take these combined medications, if an LABA is necessary, to ensure compliance with the treatment plan.
In addition, there are two cautions about long-term use of LABAs: they should be used only in patients whose asthma cannot be controlled on another medication and only taken until asthma is controlled and then discontinued, while maintaining another controller medication.
For more information, visit the FDA website.