Treatment Guidelines from The Medical Letter
FROM
ISSUE
76
December 1, 2008
Table of Contents 2008 
Drugs for Asthma
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December 1, 2008 (Issue: 76)
Revised 11/13/08: In the table on page 86, the last sentence of footnote 7 was incomplete. It now correctly reads: "Zileuton is taken within 1 hour after morning and evening meals."
Superseded by The Medical Letter "Drugs for Asthma" - Issue 1613, December 14, 2020

No truly new drugs have been approved for treatment of asthma since omalizumab (Xolair) in 2003, but some randomized controlled trials of older drugs have been published, and new guidelines have become available.1

INHALATION DEVICES

Inhalation is the preferred route of delivery for most asthma drugs. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which have ozone-depleting properties, are being phased out as propellants in metered-dose inhalers; albuterol inhalers with CFCs will not be available in the US after December 31, 2008. Non-chlorinated hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants, which do not deplete the ozone layer, will replace them.2

Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) require coordination of inhalation with hand-actuation of the device. Valved holding chambers (VHCs) or spacers can help young children or elderly patients use MDIs effectively. VHCs have one-way ... more      

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