List of medications used to treat severe or difficult-to-treat asthma

High-strength versions of any "combination" inhalers, specifically:

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Aerivio” (50/500) one puff twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Airflusal” (50/500) one puff twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Bufomix” (320/9) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “DuoResp” (320/9) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Flutiform” (250/10) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Fostair” (200/6) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Relvar” (184/22) one puff daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Sereflo” (25/250) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Seretide” (500/50) one puff twice daily or (250/25) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Sirdupla” (25/250) two puffs twice daily

• The high-strength version of an inhaler called “Symbicort” (400/12) two puffs twice daily

• An inhaler called "Enerzair" (114/46/136) one puff daily

Long term maintenance steroid tablets or steroid liquids, specifically:

• A long term maintenance steroid tablet or steroid liquid for asthma called “Deltacortril”

• A long term maintenance steroid tablet or steroid liquid for asthma called “Prednesol” (prednisolone)

Long term maintenance medicine, specifically:

• A long term maintenance medicine, often prescribed to be taken on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or once every day, called Azithromycin

• A long term maintenance medicine, often prescribed to be taken on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or once every day, called Zithromax

Combination of high strength version of an inhaled steroid and a second controller medicine, specifically:

• The combination of a tablet called “Montelair” or “Montelukast” or “Singulair” and an inhaler containing high strength steroid

• Alternatively the combination of an inhaler called "Spiriva" or "Incruse" or "Eklira" and an inhaler containing high strength steroid 

Examples of a high strength version of an inhaled steroid include:

• two puffs twice daily of “Alvesco” (the 80 mcg strength) or one puff twice daily of “Alvesco” (the 160 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of “Asmanex” (the 200 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of “Beclazone” (the 250 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of “Becotide” (the 250 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of “Flixotide” (the 250 mcg strength) or one puff twice daily of “Flixotide” (the 500 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of ”Novolizer Budesonide” (the 400 mcg strength)

• two puffs twice daily of “Pulmicort” (the 400 mcg strength)

Please note: Medications are listed in alphabetical order; the order of the medications does not suggest any clinical preference or effectiveness.

• Where specified, it is the prescribed daily number of puffs of the medication that indicates the asthma is severe.

• Every controller/preventer inhaler is different. Whether they indicate you have severe asthma depends on:

  • The strength of your specific controller inhaler

  • The number of daily doses prescribed

  • Whether or not other controllers are prescribed to you

  • An asthma doctor has determined that your asthma requires such dosages to prevent your asthma from becoming ‘uncontrolled’ or that remains ‘uncontrolled’ despite this therapy.

Blue inhalers such as “Bricanyl”, “Salamol”, “Salbutamol”, and “Ventolin” are reliever inhalers (the medicine can also be used in a nebuliser) and are not taken into account in the definition of severe asthma.