Doubling steroids does not stop asthma exacerbations.(Tips)

Publication: American Family Physician

Publication Date: 15-SEP-04

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COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

When asthma control deteriorates, a common strategy is to double or quadruple the maintenance dose of inhaled steroids. In stable patients, this technique results in modest improvements in spirometry and peak flow results, but the effect in patients who are clinically deteriorating has not been established. Harrison and colleagues studied the ability of prompt doubling of the dose of inhaled steroids to reduce the severity and duration of asthma exacerbations.

They studied 390 adult British primary care patients who used inhaled corticosteroids...

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