Asthma Drug Facility

Home | Contact Us | Site Map
French (Fr)Español(Spanish Formal International)English (United Kingdom)
Medicines PDF Print E-mail

1._el_salvador2Download the PDF pdf_button

In order to increase affordability and accessibility of asthma medicines in as many
countries as possible, ADF has chosen to recommend two essential medicines:

Inhaled HFA corticosteroid:

  • Beclometasone 100 μg/puff, 200 doses, HFA inhaler

Inhaled HFA short-acting beta2-agonist:

  • Salbutamol 100 μg/puff, 200 doses, HFA inhaler
The choice was based on the following arguments. These products are:
  1. Demonstrated to have high efficacy and cost effectiveness, and low toxicity;
  2. Included in the List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization and a number of low- and middle-income countries;
  3. Recommended as first line medicines in all international asthma guidelines;
  4. Recommended for the standardised treatment of asthma in the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) Asthma Guide (see Management of asthma: A guide to the Essentials of Good Clinical Practice);
  5. Used in most of the countries that are implementing the Practical Approach to Lung Health (PAL).

Two alternative corticosteroids are also available:

  • Budesonide 200 μg/puff, 200 doses, HFA inhaler
  • Fluticasone 125 μg/puff, 120 doses, HFA inhaler
Last updated on Friday, 06 March 2009 10:58