For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
Convincing patients to use smarter, greener inhalers for asthma management
+Practice
PHARMACOTHERAPY
Convincing patients to use smarter, greener inhalers for asthma management
Monday 26 July 2021, 04:18 PM

John says he needs his blue inhaler to help him breathe better when playing rugby
With the cold blast of winter, there is the usual rush of people with asthma wanting their inhalers. It is also a good time to review asthma control and discuss the suitability of the relatively new approach to managing mild asthma
Linda Bryant
This article has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 0.25 CME credits for the General Practice Educational Programme and conti
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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References
- Beasley R, Beckert L, Fingleton J, et al. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ adolescent and adult asthma guidelines 2020: a quick reference guide. NZ Med J 2020;133(1517):73–99.
- Reddel HK, FitzGerald JM, Bateman ED, et al. GINA 2019: a fundamental change in asthma management: Treatment of asthma with short-acting bronchodilators alone is no longer recommended for adults and adolescents. Eur Respir J 2019;53(6):1901046.
- Bryant L, Bang C, Chew C, et al. Adequacy of inhaler technique used by people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Prim Health Care 2013;5(3):191–98.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Patient decision aid: Inhalers for asthma. May 2019. https://bit.ly/2Ek0CPo