A new maintenance treatment for adults with severe asthma is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – Trimbow 200/6/10, is a triple therapy in an inhaler (puffer) device which helps to relieve and prevent symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and cough in adults with asthma. As with other combination inhaler treatments for asthma.
Trimbow is generally well tolerated and common side-effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) include sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and sneezing, fungal infections of the mouth, hoarseness and headache.
Dr John Blakey, a member of Asthma WA’s Clinical Advisory Committee and a Consultant Respiratory and Sleep Physician at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where he is the lead for the multidisciplinary asthma service, says that “people with asthma have different stories, they don’t have the same age of onset, the same triggers, the same symptoms or the same response to medicines. This new PBS addition is a very valuable option as we try to match the right medicines for each individual’s asthma. Having three medicines in one device is simpler than multiple separate inhalers, and cheaper to buy each month. These two aspects should make it easier for people with asthma to take their medicines regularly and properly, and this means fewer symptoms and a lower chance of flare ups,” says Dr Blakey.
For further information on Trimbow, Asthma patients should speak to their doctor or other healthcare professional if they require further information about their condition and the ensuing use of Trimbow.