Summary of asthma treatment approaches in adults

Anti-inflammatory reliever-only therapy 

ICS–formoterol

(single inhaler taken as needed, no maintenance treatment)

Budesonide–formoterol 200/6 microg via DPI: 1 inhalation as needed for symptom relief

Budesonide–formoterol 100/3 microg via pMDI: 2 inhalations as needed for symptom relief

Maintenance-and-reliever therapy 

ICS-formoterol

(single inhaler used for regular daily maintenance plus extra doses as needed for symptoms)

Low dose (low daily maintenance dose + low reliever doses)

Beclometasone–formoterol 100/6 microg via pMDI: daily maintenance dose (1 inhalation twice daily) plus 1 inhalation as needed for symptom relief

Budesonide–formoterol 100/3 microg via pMDI: daily maintenance dose (4 inhalations per day) plus 2 inhalations as needed for symptom relief

Budesonide–formoterol 200/6 microg via DPI: daily maintenance dose (2 inhalations per day) plus 1 inhalation as needed for symptom relief

Budesonide–formoterol 100/6 microg via DPI: daily maintenance dose (2 inhalations per day) plus 1 inhalation as needed for symptom relief

Medium dose (medium daily maintenance dose + low reliever doses)

Budesonide–formoterol 100/3 microg via pMDI: daily maintenance dose (4 inhalations twice daily) plus 2 inhalations as needed for symptom relief

Budesonide–formoterol 200/6 microg via DPI: daily maintenance dose (2 inhalations twice daily) plus 1 inhalation as needed for symptom relief

Maintenance ICS

(plus as-needed SABA)

Beclometasone dipropionate*

Budesonide*

Ciclesonide*

Fluticasone furoate*

Fluticasone propionate*

Plus SABA reliever:

Salbutamol 100 microg via pMDI: 1–2 inhalations as needed for symptom relief

or

Terbutaline 500 microg via DPI: 1 inhalation for symptom relief

Maintenance ICS–LABA

(plus as-needed SABA)

Beclometasone–formoterol*

Budesonide–formoterol*

Fluticasone furoate–vilanterol*

Fluticasone propionate–salmeterol*

Fluticasone propionate–formoterol*

Mometasone–indacaterol*