IOWA CITY, Iowa, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Asthma drugs that contain salmeterol and inhaled steroids may make asthma worse and should be used with caution, say U.S. researchers.
A study released this week by the University of Iowa showed that the combination, which is normally used daily to control asthma but does not stop acute attacks, is part of the popular asthma drug Advair and other asthma preventives on the market.
The scientists say that some patients who use it do not need medication this strong and that there is a small subgroup of people whose asthma is made worse by the drugs.
"For most patients whose asthma cannot be controlled with a low-dose inhaled steroid, adding salmeterol to the steroid provides increased benefits, so there's no question this can be a useful combination drug for many individuals," said Miles Weinberger, lead author of the study.
"We don't want to unduly alarm people, but instead help spread the word that patients should talk with their physicians if they are using Advair, or another inhaled asthma medication that contains salmeterol, and feel that it worsens symptoms instead of making them better."
The team's research can be found in the August 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
