Update on the Safety of Long-acting Beta2-agonists.
- Author:
Byung Jae LEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review ; Clinical Trial
- Keywords:
Long-acting beta2-agonist;
LABA;
Asthma;
Inhaled corticosteroid
- MeSH:
Asthma;
Humans;
United States Food and Drug Administration
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2011;80(2):135-138
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A recent meta-analysis of clinical trials found that long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) increased life-threatening asthma exacerbations and deaths, which led to warnings concerning regular use of LABA by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is now obvious that LABA monotherapy in asthma increases the risk of serious adverse events. However, the risk is reduced with concomitant use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Hence the FDA's recommendations that LABA should not be used in patients whose asthma is well controlled with a medium dose of ICS, or LABA should be withdrawn once asthma control is achieved, remain still controversial. It seems reasonable to follow current guidelines which recommend the use of LABA when asthma is not controlled with ICS, although more well-designed research on the safety of LABA, especially when combined with ICS, is required.
