The professional's guide to product selection
Antimuscarinic bronchodilator with long-acting selective beta2 agonist.
• Over 18 years for maintenance treatment of COPD: by inhalation of aerosol, two puffs once daily.
Antimuscarinic bronchodilator.
• Over 18 years for maintenance of COPD or treatment of asthma using Spiriva Respimat: by inhalation, 5 mcg, once daily.
• Child 6-11 years for severe asthma [add-on to inhaled corticosteroid (over 400 micrograms budesonide daily or equivalent) and 1 controller, or inhaled corticosteroid (200–400 micrograms budesonide daily or equivalent) and 2 controllers, in patients who have suffered one or more severe exacerbations in the last year]: 5 mcg, once daily.
• Child 12-17 years for severe asthma [add-on to inhaled corticosteroid (over 800 micrograms budesonide daily or equivalent) and 1 controller, or inhaled corticosteroid (400–800 micrograms budesonide daily or equivalent) and 2 controllers, in patients who have suffered one or more severe exacerbations in the last year]: 5 mcg, once daily.
SpiroSense is a PC spirometer (SpiroSensePro) for healthcare professionals, which also includes the option of adding a mobile spirometer (mySpiroSense) for patients to use at home. This combination of spirometers enables the snapshot readings obtained in the clinic by the healthcare professional to be supplemented with measurements taken by the patient at home.
The patient spirometer, mySpiroSense, stores a complete FVC in an electronic diary. A traffic light feedback system provides the patient with information about the quality of the measurement he has performed. At the next clinic visit, the stored data can be downloaded to the SpiroSensePro Software for evaluation by the practitioner.
Automatic calibration ensures data quality and hot wire sensor technology provides high measurement accuracy, even at low flow rates. The software presents the parameters in graph form.
A software animation program means that even small children can perform the correct breathing technique, so SpiroSense is particularly suitable for use in paediatrics.
Stockists: Pari Medical
This is a plug-and-play PC-based spirometry device, most suited for a paediatric environment or for those with learning difficulties. The spirometer plugs directly into the USB port of a PC or laptop, without the need for an additional docking station or data uploading.
SpiroUSB performs open and closed-loop spirometry, and pre- and post-bronchodilator testing. The databases can be exported for further individual reporting. The large patient database allows results to be saved or transferred as required.
Stockists: Williams Medical
For severe asthma in patients 12 years of age and older only where use of a combination product (long-acting beta2 agonist and inhaled corticosteroid) is appropriate: patients not adequately controlled on a lower strength corticosteroid combination product or patients already adequately controlled on an inhaled corticosteroid in a high strength and a long-acting beta2 agonist.
For symptomatic treatment of COPD with a FEV1 <60% predicted normal (pre-bronchodilator) and a history of repeated exacerbations, who have significant symptoms despite regular bronchodilator therapy.
Long-acting selective beta2 agonist.
• Over 18 years by inhalation: 5 mcg (2 puffs), once daily.
Long-acting selective beta2 agonist with corticosteroid.
Symbicort 100/3 pressurised inhaler
Asthma, maintenance therapy
• Child 12–17 years: Initially 2–4 inhalations twice daily; reduced to 1 inhalation daily, dose reduced only if control is maintained.
• Adult: Initially 2–4 inhalations twice daily, increased if necessary up to 8 inhalations twice daily; reduced to 1 inhalation daily, dose reduced only if control is maintained.
Asthma, maintenance and reliever therapy
• Over 12 years: Maintenance 4 inhalations daily in 1–2 divided doses, increased if necessary up to 4 inhalations twice daily; 2 inhalations as required for relief of symptoms, increased if necessary up to 12 inhalations as required, usual max. 16 inhalations per day; up to 24 inhalations daily can be used for a limited time under medical supervision.
Symbicort 200/6 Pressurised inhaler
COPD
• Adult: 2 inhalations twice daily.
Long-acting selective beta2 agonist with corticosteroid.
Symbicort 100/6 Turbohaler
• 6–17 years for asthma maintenance: 1-2 inhalations twice daily, reduced to 1 inhalation daily if controlled.
• Adults for asthma maintenance: 1-2 inhalations daily, increased to up to 4 inhalations daily if needed, or reduced to 1 daily if controlled.
• Over 12 years for asthma maintenance and reliever therapy: 2 inhalations daily across one or two doses; 1 inhalation for relief of symptoms and increase to 6 if required. A maximum of 8 inhalations per day, but 12 can be given under medical supervision.
Symbicort 200/6 Turbohaler
• 12–17 years for asthma maintenance: 1-2 inhalations twice daily, reduced to 1 inhalation daily if controlled.
• Adults for asthma maintenance: 1-2 inhalations daily, increased to up to 4 inhalations daily if needed, or reduced to one daily if controlled.
• Over 12 years for asthma maintenance and reliever therapy: 2 inhalations daily across one or two doses but can be increased to 2 inhalations twice daily if needed; 1 inhalation for relief of symptoms and increase to 6 inhalations if required. A maximum of 8 inhalations per day, but 12 can be given for a limited time under medical supervision.
• Adult for COPD: 1 inhalation twice daily.
Symbicort 400/12 Turbohaler
• 12–17 years for asthma maintenance: 1 inhalation twice daily, but can be reduced to 1 inhalation daily.
• Adult for asthma maintenance: 1 inhalation twice daily, increased to 2 inhalations twice daily if required and decreased to 1 inhalation daily if controlled.
• Adult for COPD: 1 inhalation twice daily.
Mucolytic to facilitate expectoration by reducing sputum viscosity in the case of cystic fibrosis.
By mouth
Child 6–11 years (body-weight up to 30 kg): 50/75 mg, to be taken in the morning and, Ivacaftor 75 mg to be taken in the evening (about 12 hours apart).
Child 6–11 years (body-weight 30 kg and above): 100/150 mg, to be taken in the morning and, Ivacaftor 150 mg to be taken in the evening (about 12 hours apart).
Child 12–17 years: 100/150 mg, to be taken in the morning and, Ivacaftor 150 mg to be taken in the evening (about 12 hours apart).
Adult: 100/150 mg, to be taken in the morning in combination with Ivacaftor 150 mg in the evening.