Effect of Pregnancy on Quantitative Medication Use and Relation to Exacerbations in Asthma
Table 1
Ranking of asthma medication according to the guideline-based stepwise approach.
Component
Type
Rank
Prescription period
LTRAs
Montelukast
Oral
1
1
Pranlukast
Oral
1
1
Zafirlukast
Oral
1
1
Xanthine
Aminophylline
Oral
1
1
Theophylline
Oral
1
1
LABA
Bambuterol
Oral
1
1
Fenoterol
Oral
1
1
Formoterol
Oral
1
1
Procaterol
Oral
1
1
Procaterol
Inhaler
1
30
Terbutaline
Oral
1
1
ICS
Low-dose ICS
Budesonide
Inhaler
1
30
Ciclesonide
Inhaler
1
30
Fluticasone propionate
Inhaler
1
30
Medium- to high-dose ICS
Budesonide
Inhaler
2
30
Fluticasone propionate
Inhaler
2
30
ICS/LABA
Low-dose ICS/LABA
Budesonide/formoterol
Inhaler
2
30
Inhaler
2
Beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol
Inhaler
2
30
Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol
Inhaler
2
30
Fluticasone propionate/formoterol
Inhaler
2
30
Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol
Inhaler
2
30
Inhaler
2
Medium- to high-dose ICS/LABA
Budesonide/formoterol
Inhaler
3
30
Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol
Inhaler
3
30
Inhaler
3
Fluticasone propionate/formoterol
Inhaler
3
30
Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol
Inhaler
3
30
LAMA
Tiotropium
Inhaler
4
30
Systemic corticosteroids
Betamethasone < 2.4 mg
4
1
Dexamethasone < 3 mg
4
1
Methylprednisolone < 16 mg
4
1
Prednisolone < 20 mg
4
1
device contains 120 doses, twice the dose of the standard device. device contains 28 doses for use over 14 days; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonist; LABA, long-acting -agonists; ICS, inhaled corticosteroid; LAMA, long-acting muscarinic antagonists.
