Budesonide/Formoterol Combination Therapy as Both Maintenance and Reliever Medication in Asthma

Asthma control is improved by combining inhaled corticosteroids with long-acting beta2-agonists. However, fluctuating asthma control still occurs. We hypothesized that in patients receiving low maintenance dose budesonide/formoterol (bud/form), replacing short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) reliever with as-needed bud/form would provide rapid symptom relief and simultaneous adjustment in antiinflammatory therapy, thereby reducing exacerbations. In this double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study, 2,760 patients with asthma aged 4-80 years (FEV1 60-100% predicted) received either terbutaline 0.4 mg as SABA with bud/form 80/4.5 microg twice a day (bud/form + SABA) or bud 320 microg twice a day (bud + SABA) or…