Pharm Corticosteroids

Question 1

should inhaled corticosteroids be taken alone or in combination with other inhaled medications?

Answer 1

COMBINATION
- should not be taken alone

Question 2

when are inhaled corticosteroid therapy recommended?

Answer 2

for the treatment of patients with advanced COPD (meaning a FEV1 <50% predicted who experience repeated exacerbations)

Question 3

what are corticosteroids given in combination with?

Answer 3

long acting beta agonist (LABA)

Question 4

what has combined inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long acting beta agonists (LABA) been shown to do?

Answer 4

reduce exacerbations, improve lung function and health status, and appear to be beneficial in patients with epsinophilic inflammation or asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Question 5

what triple therapy was recently approved in Canada?

Answer 5

inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), a long acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and a long acting beta 2 agonist (LABA)
- delivered once daily by inhalation route

Question 6

when is triple therapy used?

Answer 6

for patients that are not adequately treated using dual therapy

Question 7

when is triple therapy not indicated?

Answer 7

for relief of acute bronchospasm of the treatment of asthma