Inhaled corticosteroids in the long-term management of asthma

For the individual ICS drugs, see separate evidence summaries:

• Beclomethasone «Inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate is effective in the treatment of chronic asthma.»A
• Budesonide «Budesonide is highly effective for chronic asthma. There is a significant dose response effect between low and high dose for improvement in FEV1 in severe asthma and reduction of exacerbations in moderate to severe asthma.»A
• Fluticasone «Doses of fluticasone in the range of 100 µg to 1000 µg are more effective than placebo in the treatment of asthma. There is no pronounced dose response in FEV1 but morning PEF values may be improved with increasing doses of fluticasone.»A
• Ciclesonide «Ciclesonide improves lung function and symptoms in chronic asthma compared to placebo, at least in the short term, and it is an equivalent therapy to other inhaled corticosteroids at similar nominal doses.»A
• Mometasone «Mometasone furoate 400 μg daily in one or two doses is effective in the treatment of persistent asthma in adults.»A

The following decision support rules contain links to this evidence summary:

• Inhaled corticosteroids instead of oral steroids for chronic asthma «http://www.ebmeds.org/ebmeds/ebmeds_home.asp?mode=scripts&submode=view&id=scr00494&country=UK»1