Loading...
Some data suggest that use of long-acting β-agonists (LABAs) without an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) increases the risk for severe asthma exacerbations and could be associated with death in children and adults. Based on a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of data from 110 trials involving 60,954 subjects, an FDA advisory panel recently voted to ban use of two LABAs — Serevent (salmeterol) and Foradil (formoterol) — for treatment of asthma in children and adults. The advisory panel did not ban the two LABA–ICS combination drugs, Advair (salmeterol and fluticasone) and Symbicort (formoterol and budesonide). Symbicort is not approved for use in children.
Overall comparison between LABA and non-LABA treatments (including ICS alone, short-ac…