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Can Long-term Usage Of Seretide Cause The Medication To Be Less In Responsiveness?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Jul 2015
Question: Can the long-term use of Seretide cause the medication to lessen in responsiveness?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
should not

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Seretide is a combination drug used for asthma. It contains a long acting bronchodilator and an inhaled steroid. It should continue to work without causing a lessening in responsiveness. Asthmatics are often on a treatment like this for lifetime. If it seems to be not working for you then you may need a dose adjustment or an additional medication added to control your asthma. Please let me know if you have further questions.
Please do not adjust the dose of this medication on your own, that could be very dangerous. Please talk to your doctor before making any changes in asthma medications
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (8 minutes later)
Thank you. When you say 'dangerous' what are the dangers? XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
too much bronchodilator

Detailed Answer:
Good question.
Medications like this are prepared with a standard dose of bronchodilator. In the case of Seretide it is salmeterol. Salmeterol is like albuterol except long acting. The maximum safe dose of salmeterol is 50 mg twice a day. If you increase the amount of puffs you take of a medication like this then you can get too much salmeterol and it can speed up your heart rate and cause problems. Seretide strengths are (for example)
50/25 mcg
125/25mcg
250/25mcg
the second number here is the salmeterol so the maximum dose say of the 50/25 would be two puffs twice a day giving you 50 mg twice a day of salmeterol which is the maximum safe dose.
The first number there is the steroid. So if you needed a higher dose your doctor would need to change your prescription from the 50/25 to the 125/25 again at 2 puffs twice a day so that you got more steroid but not more salmeterol.
When I write a prescription for these drugs I always write on the prescription the dose I recommend then NEVER MORE, just so that people understand you can get into trouble by increasing the puffs on these combination medications.
The other option that doctors can use is giving you a plain salmeterol inhaler with a dose that does not change, then also give you a separate prescription for an inhaled steroid. Then you could increase the inhaled steroid on your own if you needed to without changing prescriptions.
Let me know if you have further questions
Regards,
Dr. Robinson

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (7 minutes later)
Thank you that is a good explanation. My lung specialist was talking of getting me off the inhaled steroid eventually. I have heard of Onbrez recently which is a long lasting bronchial dialator without the steroid. Have you heard of this and is it effective?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes, effective

Detailed Answer:
Yes, OnBrez is indacaterol it is similar to salmeterol and should work just as well as a long actiing bronchodilator. Let me know if you have further questions.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Kathy Robinson

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1989

Answered : 3535 Questions

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Can Long-term Usage Of Seretide Cause The Medication To Be Less In Responsiveness?

Brief Answer: should not Detailed Answer: Hello, Seretide is a combination drug used for asthma. It contains a long acting bronchodilator and an inhaled steroid. It should continue to work without causing a lessening in responsiveness. Asthmatics are often on a treatment like this for lifetime. If it seems to be not working for you then you may need a dose adjustment or an additional medication added to control your asthma. Please let me know if you have further questions. Please do not adjust the dose of this medication on your own, that could be very dangerous. Please talk to your doctor before making any changes in asthma medications Dr. Robinson