Increased Doses of Inhaled Steroid Do Not Help

A study involving 390 participants at Nottingham City Hospital in the United Kingdom found that patients who took twice their customary dose of inhaled steroid for 2 weeks when their asthma symptoms flared up did no better, compared with those who continued to take the usual dose. In addition to the regular inhaled steroids, the participants were asked to use a second inhaler when their symptoms worsened. Of the 390 participants, 192 patients were given inhalers containing a steroid, and 198 were given inhalers with a placebo.

The results showed no significant difference in symptoms for those who received the additional inhaled drug, compared with those who received the placebo, the researchers reported in The Lancet (January 24, 2004).