The National Asthma Council Australia has welcomed the outcome of the United States' Food and Drug Administration's review into the safety of long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) to treat asthma, which will bring US usage in line with the balanced prescribing approach already undertaken in Australia.

In Australia, LABAs (symptom controllers) may only be prescribed and used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids.

In the US, however, these medicines have been prescribed as a stand-alone treatment for asthma. 

Safety concerns over the US usage regimen have been mounting in recent years with studies linking stand-alone use of LABAs with an increased risk of serious worsening of asthma symptoms leading to hospitalisation and death.

Following its review, the FDA now requires LABA manufacturers to include warnings on products stating that the drugs should not be used alone in adults and children and should be taken along with inhaled corticosteroids. 

"This outcome reinforces the fact that the Australian asthma management guidelines contained in the Asthma Management Handbook are among the very best in the world and will be reassuring for the two million plus Australians with asthma," said National Asthma Council Australia Director, Associate Professor Peter Wark.

The National Asthma Council Australia recommends a stepwise approach to asthma care.

In those with persistent asthma symptoms it is recommended that they be treated with an inhaled corticosteroid regularly to reduce symptoms and reduce the risk of acute asthma.

For people who have persisting symptoms despite the use of inhaled corticosteroids, the addition of an age appropriate LABA leads to better symptom control and reduces the risk of acute flare-ups of asthma, but only when used concurrently with an inhaled corticosteroid.  

"Used in combination, these medications are effective and very valuable in the control of asthma, especially in those with more severe disease," Assoc Prof Wark said.

For further information please contact:

Kelly Ward:

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