The NZ-led study of mild asthma in adults found that patients instructed to use the Symbicort combination medication "as needed" had half as many asthma episodes. The trial included patients from New Zealand, Australia, Britain and Italy whose only asthma therapy in the preceding three months was a short-acting reliever inhaler. "With a combined preventer-reliever inhaler, patients have more personal and immediate control over their asthma management. She uses Flixotide inhaled corticosteroid preventer medication twice a day, and occasionally also a Ventolin reliever inhaler. Cole had been prescribed a Symbicort combination medication inhaler, two doses a day, and Sarah was interested in the study's findings on using that type of inhaler on an as-needed basis to treat mild asthma.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 19, 2019 20:37 UTC