A combination rescue inhaler containing both albuterol and another medication may help lower the risk of severe asthma attacks in people with mild asthma, according to a recently published phase 3 study. Participants who used the inhaler as needed were 53 percent less likely to have a serious flare-up than those using a traditional rescue inhaler with only albuterol. The combination inhaler also reduced the overall rate of severe attacks by 47 percent over the course of the study.

Approved in 2023 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Airsupra combines albuterol with budesonide. Albuterol is a fast-acting bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles around the airways, making it easier to breathe during an asthma attack. Budesonide is a corticosteroid (or simply steroid) used in daily asthma treatments to reduce inflammation. Combining the two in a rescue inhaler is a new approach that aims to both treat immediate symptoms and reduce future asthma attacks.

The findings also showed that people using Airsupra could take a lower dose of systemic steroids during the year compared with those using albuterol only as a rescue inhaler. Systemic steroids, taken by mouth or injection, can cause serious side effects when used long term.

Potential Short- and Long-Term Asthma Relief

For people living with asthma, especially those with mild symptoms, treatment often focuses on short-acting rescue inhalers for sudden breathing problems. This new data shows that adding an anti-inflammatory medication to the rescue treatment may better prevent flare-ups that require emergency care or hospitalization.

Other inhalers that combine anti-inflammatory steroids with bronchodilators must be taken daily to help control asthma. For example, Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol), Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol), and Dulera (mometasone and formoterol) are used for daily maintenance therapy — not for quick relief during an attack. Airsupra is the first product to offer a dual-action, combination approach in a rescue inhaler used as needed.

If you’re living with asthma and having trouble managing symptoms or preventing attacks, talk with a healthcare provider about your treatment options. Together, you can find a plan that supports your goals and helps improve your quality of life.

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