For people with poorly controlled asthma, combination inhalers are another medication option. These inhalers contain a mixture of preventer/controller medication with a form of slow-acting reliever medication. People requiring a combination inhaler should be reviewed regularly by their healthcare professional.
Reliever inhalers relax your airways, which help breathlessness, but they do not treat airway inflammation. As well as the relaxing effect of a reliever inhaler, you need the anti-inflammatory effect of a preventer/controller. A combination inhaler provides both forms of medication in one go. Once the airways are less inflamed, they are less sensitive to triggers such as cigarette smoke and viral infections.
Examples of combination medication
- Fluticasone and Salmeterol (e.g. Seretide – used for ages 4+)
- Budesonide and Formoterol (e.g. Symbicort – used for ages 6+)
Possible side effects of combination inhalers
As with standard controller inhalers, combination inhalers can occasionally cause hoarseness, sore throat or oral thrush. These side effects can be reduced by using your inhaler correctly, using a spacer device, rinsing your mouth, and wiping your face after taking your medication.
Why is my reliever inhaler not enough?
Reliever inhalers relax your airways, which help breathlessness, but they do not treat airway inflammation. As well as the relaxing effect of a reliever inhaler, you need the anti-inflammatory effect of a preventer. Once the airways are less inflamed, they are less sensitive to triggers such as cigarette smoke and viral infections.
Do I really need to take my controller inhaler every day?
Yes – very definitely. To work properly, preventers need to be taken every day, usually morning and evening, even if you are feeling well. The protective effect of the preventer medicine builds up gradually.
Once this protection is working, occasionally forgetting to take your inhaler will usually not have any major effects. But forgetting or stopping for several days at a time will mean you lose your protection