Control

• Maintaining Control

Treating Asthma, Maintaining Control

There are several types of medicines that treat asthma. Depending on the type of asthma you have, your healthcare provider may prescribe one or more of them.

Quick-relief medicines for asthma

Quick-relief inhalers treat asthma attacks or flare-ups. Most quick-relief inhalers contain a short-acting beta agonist (SABA), such as albuterol. These inhalers work by opening up your airways, making it easier to breathe.1 If you have asthma, you should always carry your quick-relief inhaler with you.

However, if you need to use a quick-relief inhaler more than two days a week, your asthma may not be under control. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a long-term controller medicine for asthma.1

Long-term control medicines for asthma

People with persistent asthma need an asthma control medicine in addition to a quick-relief inhaler. For many patients, the first choice in asthma controller medicines is an inhaled corticosteroid, like QVAR®. The medicine in QVAR® reduces inflammation and helps improve lung function.2

Long-term asthma control medicines should be taken every day, even if you are not having symptoms, in order to keep asthma symptoms under control. Forgetting to take your asthma control medicine—or stopping because you don't have symptoms—may increase your risk of asthma attacks.

Combination products

Combination products contain two drugs; one is an ICS and the other is a long-acting beta agonist (or LABA).1 When used for the treatment of asthma, LABAs are associated with an increased risk of severe exacerbation of asthma symptoms, which may lead to hospitalizations or death in some patients.3

Because of this risk, combination products should only be used for patients whose asthma is not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma control medication such as an ICS. Once asthma is under control, patients should "step down" to using just an ICS, if it is possible to do so while still maintaining asthma control.3

1. NHLBI Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed April 20, 2010.
2. QVAR® (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Prescribing Information. Teva Respiratory, LLC; 2008.
3. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Drug labels now contain updated recommendations on the appropriate use of long-acting inhaled asthma medications called Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs). Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm213836.htm [Accessed July 7, 2010].

QVAR® is indicated in the maintenance treatment of asthma as prophylactic therapy in patients 5 years of age or older. QVAR® is also indicated for asthma patients who require systemic corticosteroid administration, where adding QVAR® may reduce or eliminate the need for systemic corticosteroids.

Important Safety Information

QVAR® does not replace fast-acting (rescue) inhalers for sudden symptoms.

CAUTION: If you are switching from an oral corticosteroid to QVAR®, follow your doctor's instructions to avoid health risks when you stop using oral corticosteroids (See WARNINGS, Prescribing Information).

Inhaled corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth rate. The long-term effect on final adult growth is unknown.

In clinical studies, common side effects included headache and pharyngitis.

Do not stop taking QVAR® abruptly without talking to your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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