For most people with asthma, inhaled steroids are the treatment of choice, and highly effective in preventing and controlling asthma symptoms. But some people are not able to achieve adequate asthma control even with consistent use of daily (or twice daily) inhaled steroids. This is most common in cases of severe persistent asthma.

In these cases, doctors will often prescribe a long acting beta agonist, or bronchodilator, to go with the inhaled steroid. Some inhalers combine these two different types of medication in one canister. It's obvious that this would be more convenient and easier, and therefore a treatment regimen more likely to be followed than having to remember to take 2 different meds once or twice a day.

But, now, researchers have announced that it is also safer to use a combination inhaler, rather than 2 different inhalers.

Researchers from Kaiser Permanente announced at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology this week that Advair (the only combination drug available at the time the study began) had lower mortality rates than an inhaled steroid and long acting beta agonist given separately. It's possible this is largely related to how carefully patients followed the prescribed instructions for using each drug.

The study has not yet been published, so findings are preliminary. Also, this was not a random clinical trial, which is considered the most valid type of research. Instead, it was a retrospective analysis of past data, and it did not factor out several possible influencing factors, such as other illnesses and socioeconomic status. Still, it adds to the body of knowledge about asthma medication safety and may springboard future research.

More About Asthma Medicines:

• Asthma Controller Medicines
• Quick-Relief Asthma Medicines
• Switching From a CFC to an HFA Inhaler - What to Expect
• Video: How Do Inhalers Work?