Conclusion
Asthma is a major chronic disease that affects individuals in all age groups. All patients with asthma are at risk for acute exacerbations. Pharmacists in all healthcare settings should be conversant with evidence-based pharmacotherapy for the management of acute exacerbations of and preventive therapy for severe asthma. Acute exacerbations are managed with inhaled bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, and oral corticosteroids. Patient-specific pharmacotherapy to prevent acute exacerbations includes the use of inhaled corticosteroids, often in combination with a long-acting bronchodilator, a short-acting bronchodilator for rescue, a long-acting antimuscarinic antagonist, a leukotriene antagonist, and biologics. Biological therapies represent a treatment option for patients with severe asthma unresponsive or intolerant to traditional treatments.
US Pharmacist. 2019;44(7):HS 2-HS 7. © 2019 Jobson Publishing
