MART Asthma Action Plan

A MART Asthma Action Plan helps manage your asthma by outlining daily care and steps to take if symptoms worsen.

What is MART?

Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) is an asthma treatment using a single combination inhaler instead of separate controller and reliever inhalers. Only certain dry powder inhalers containing an inhaled steroid and the bronchodilator formoterol are suitable for MART. Consult your GP, nurse, or pharmacist to confirm your inhaler type.

Why use MART?

Reduces airway inflammation
Prevents asthma symptoms
Acts quickly for symptom relief or flare-ups
Lowers the risk of needing steroid tablets during flare-ups

How is MART different from other combination inhalers?

MART inhalers contain a steroid to reduce airway inflammation and a fast-acting bronchodilator, formoterol, which works within 5-10 minutes. Unlike other inhalers, MART can be used for both maintenance and symptom relief. Some other combination inhalers require a separate blue reliever inhaler for symptom relief. Your healthcare professional will guide you on your inhaler use.

When is a MART inhaler prescribed?

Your GP or asthma nurse may prescribe MART if:

You've been using your controller medication as directed but still have symptoms
You've tried other treatments and still experience symptoms
You prefer managing your asthma with one inhaler for both control and relief.

MART is typically prescribed for those with asthma aged 12 and over.

How to use your MART inhaler

Use it daily as prescribed
Use it if symptoms worsen or during an asthma flare-up
Always carry your MART inhaler and ask your healthcare professional about the maximum daily puffs.

Inhaler technique is important to ensure your medication gets deep into the airways. You can check how to use your inhaler here.

If you have any questions about MART therapy, you can contact our Adviceline or WhatsApp messaging service here. You can also talk to your GP, nurse, or pharmacist.

Contact your doctor or nurse if:

You're using the maximum daily dose of your MART inhaler with no improvement
You're using extra doses most days
You're concerned about your asthma

Using your MART inhaler during an asthma flare-up

MART inhalers contain formoterol, a fast-acting bronchodilator to quickly open airways.

Stay calm. Sit up straight – do not lie down.
Take slow steady breaths.
Take ONE puff of your reliever inhaler every 1 to 3 minutes (max 6 puffs) of your MART inhaler or Salbutamol via spacer ONE puff every minute (up to 10 puffs)
Call 999 or 112 if your symptoms do not improve after 10 minutes.
Repeat step 3 if an ambulance has not arrived.

Each time you take your MART inhaler to relieve symptoms, you also get a dose of steroid preventer medicine. This calms the redness and swelling in your airways.

If you do not have your MART inhaler with you and need to use a blue reliever inhaler, take one dose every minute for 10 minutes and call 999 or 112 for an ambulance if your symptoms don’t improve after 10 minutes.

MART inhaler side effects

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

Oral thrush (in mouth or throat)
Hoarse voice

To reduce the chances of these side effects, rinse your mouth with water after taking your inhaler.

Less common (less than up to 1 in 100 people):

Fast heartbeat
Shaking
Feeling sick

Your GP or asthma nurse will aim for the lowest dose of medication to control your symptoms and lower your risk of side effects.

If you have any questions about side effects, you can contact our Adviceline or WhatsApp messaging service here. You can also talk to your GP, Nurse, or pharmacist.

Your GP will aim for the lowest effective dose to minimise side effects.