What should you know about triple therapy for asthma?

The corticosteroid calms airway inflammation. One bronchodilator relaxes airway muscle through one pathway, while the other works through a separate pathway to keep the air passages more open. The medicines may come in one inhaler or several, depending on the prescription.

It is generally considered for people with persistent symptoms or flare-ups despite correct use of an inhaled corticosteroid and another controller medicine. A clinician should confirm the diagnosis, inhaler technique, triggers and adherence before changing treatment. Wheezing, cough and chest tightness can also have other causes.

Use the inhaler on the schedule provided, even on days when breathing feels settled. Check the device steps with a pharmacist or asthma clinician, and ask whether a spacer is suitable. Keep any reliever inhaler available as directed, but do not use triple therapy as a substitute for urgent care.

Tell the prescriber about tremor, fast or irregular heartbeat, voice changes, mouth soreness or worsening symptoms. Rinse and spit after a corticosteroid dose when advised. Do not stop a controller suddenly without a plan.

Seek urgent medical help if breathing is rapidly worsening, speaking is difficult, lips look blue or grey, or your reliever is not helping as your action plan says. Arrange a prompt review if night symptoms, activity limitation or frequent reliever use continues.

Ask which inhaler contains each medicine, how long to try the combination, how improvement will be checked, and what to do after a missed dose or during an asthma flare.