Date - 17 June 2005

Source- Drugs in Context 2005; 1(5): Seretide® - Asthma p277

Author - Dr Rebecca Fox-Spencer

Seretide^® is a combination therapy comprising an inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate, and a long-acting ß2-agonist, salmeterol xinafoate. It is licensed for the prophylactic management of asthma, in adults and children whose asthma is inadequately controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and as-needed short-acting ß2-agonists, or already adequately controlled by inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting ß2-agonists. In addition to a clear superiority over placebo and its constituent monotherapies, Seretide improves pulmonary function and symptom control by a greater extent than a doubling of fluticasone dosage. It is also at least as effective as a combination of fluticasone and the oral leukotriene receptor antagonist, montelukast, further reinforcing the recommendation that long-acting ß2-agonists are the first-line option for add-on therapy in poorly-controlled asthma. The only other combination product available in the UK, Symbicort^® - a combination of budesonide and formoterol fumarate - has been shown to offer comparable benefit to Seretide. The combination of salmeterol and fluticasone is equally well tolerated as fluticasone monotherapy, whilst the safety concerns regarding the risk of respiratory related life-threatening events with salmeterol monotherapy do not appear to apply when it is used in combination with inhaled corticosteroids.

Keywords: Asthma; fluticasone; salmeterol; Seretide^®; combination