For the patients' ease of use, pharmaceutical companies have combined certain medications into a single inhaler. This allows a synergistic effect, two medications working together to open the airways, or at least preventing the symptoms from getting any worse. There are essentially two kinds of these combination inhalers, long-acting beta-agonist with a inhaled corticosteroid, which is a preventative therapy, and ipratropium with albuterol, which is preventative as well, but can also be used as a rescue inhaler.
Long-acting beta agonist with corticosteroid
- Salmeterol / Fluticasone (Advair)
- Formeterol /Budesonide (Symbicort)
- Formeterol /Mometasone (Dulera)
Ipratropium with albuterol
- Albuterol /Ipratropium (Combivent)