The National Asthma Council Australia has launched an up-to-date resource for pharmacists and pharmacy assistants to aid in recommending and dispensing analgesics to people with asthma and reduce the confusion associated with aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and asthma.

According to pharmacist, Dr Jenny Gowan, who co-authored the ‘Pain relievers and asthma: quick reference guide', aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can trigger asthma or rhinitis symptoms in a small percentage of people with asthma and these people need to be offered a suitable alternative analgesic.

"Many others, however, may be avoiding aspirin/NSAIDs unnecessarily because they mistakenly believe that asthma and aspirin/NSAIDs don't mix.  The fact is almost 90 per cent of people with asthma can take aspirin/NSAIDs safely. 

"This new A4 sized guide can be used by pharmacists and pharmacy assistants to quickly identify those people at risk," Dr Gowan said.

"And, it can help reassure other people with asthma that there should be minimal risk, as long as other cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risk factors are also addressed," she advised.

The ‘Pain relievers and asthma: quick reference guide' has been developed as an adjunct to normal quality care protocols and should be used as part of a pharmacy's usual best-practice care approach.

It features an easy to follow flowchart of the essential questions to ask every person requesting pain reliever medication, clearly identifying those people most likely to tolerate aspirin or other NSAIDs and those who need to be referred to the pharmacist or their doctor for advice.

"Choosing a pain reliever can be challenging for people with asthma, especially those with aspirin/NSAID-intolerant asthma (AIA) and it is important that pharmacy assistants in particular, are aware of the many issues that need to be considered," Dr Gowan advised.

"For example, while paracetamol may be a suitable alternative for many people with AIA, higher doses have been found to prompt a reaction in some patients.  This new guide addresses these complexities and will assist pharmacy assistants and pharmacists to help people with asthma find an appropriate pain reliever."

The reverse side of the new ‘Pain relievers and asthma: quick reference guide' summarises current supporting evidence and the facts about aspirin/NSAID-intolerant asthma and includes key practice points for community pharmacy.

The new guide has been co-authored by respiratory physician, Associate Professor Frank Thien, and is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Reckitt Benckiser.  Editorial control has been maintained by the National Asthma Council Australia.

Copes of the ‘Pain relievers and asthma: quick reference guide' are being direct mailed to pharmacies around Australia and can also be obtained from the National Asthma Council Australia via tel: 1800 032 495 or downloaded from: http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/content/view/651/1077/

~~ENDS~~

For further information or to arrange an interview with a National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson, please contact: