BMJ  2003;326 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7399.0-a

Patients with stable asthma may be able to take less inhaled corticosteroid

Stepping down the dose of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with chronic stable asthma can reduce the amount taken without compromising asthma control. Hawkins and colleagues (p 1115) conducted a one year, randomised, controlled, double blind trial among 259 primary care patients with asthma in western and central Scotland. The participants were randomised to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids which either remained unchanged or were reduced by 50% by stepping down the dose. The groups had similar rates of asthma exacerbation and similar numbers of visits to general practice or hospital, as well as similar disease specific and generic measures of health status.

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Relevant Article

Stepping down inhaled corticosteroids in asthma: randomised controlled trial

Gillian Hawkins, Alex D McMahon, Sara Twaddle, Stuart F Wood, Ian Ford, and Neil C Thomson
BMJ 2003 326: 1115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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