(British Approved Name Modified, US Adopted Name, rINNM)
Drug Nomenclature
INNs in main languages (French, Latin, Russian, and Spanish):
Pharmacopoeias. In Europe.
European Pharmacopoeia, 6th ed. (Salmeterol Xinafoate). A white or almost white powder. Practically insoluble in water slightly soluble in dehydrated alcohol soluble in methyl alcohol. Protect from light.
Adverse Effects and Precautions
As for Salbutamol. Inhalation of salmeterol may be associated with paradoxical bronchospasm, and it should not be used in patients who are not also receiving an inhaled corticosteroid.
Salmeterol is not appropriate for the treatment of acute bronchospasm or for patients whose asthma is deteriorating.
Effects on the cardiovascular system.
A pooled analysis of safety data from 7 studies of salmeterol in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease found no evidence of an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse effects. The duration of these studies had ranged from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Effects on the respiratory system.
Transient paradoxical bronchoconstriction with breathlessness, wheeze, or cough has been reported in 6 asthmatic patients after inhalation of salmeterol from a metered-dose aerosol but not after inhalation of the dry powder formulation by diskhaler. The fluorocarbon propellants in the metered-dose aerosol were suspected as the irritants causing bronchoconstriction.
Effects on the skin.
Urticarial rash associated with inhaled salmeterol, of which the propellant was not the cause, has been reported. Although many urticarial reactions and a variety of rashes had been attributed to beta-agonist therapy their reproducibility had not always been documented.
Increased mortality.
Interim results from a large controlled study (SMART) designed to evaluate the safety of salmeterol compared with placebo, found a small but statistically significant increase in respiratory-related and asthma-related deaths or life-threatening episodes in the total population receiving salmeterol compared with placebo. This imbalance occurred mainly in the African-American subpopulation, and combined with difficulties in enrolment, led to early termination of the study. Various factors may have influenced the differences in outcomes seen with salmeterol greater disease severity was noted at baseline in the African-American subgroup compared to Caucasian subjects, and nearly half of all participants were not receiving inhaled corticosteroids.
A subsequent meta-analysis of 19 placebo-controlled studies of patients with asthma who were taking the long-acting beta2 agonists salmeterol or formoterol, reported an increased risk of hospitalisation for an asthma exacerbation, life-threatening asthma attacks, and asthma-related deaths compared with placebo. A sub-group analysis that examined studies in which more than 75% of patients were also receiving inhaled corticosteroids also found an increased risk of hospital admission.
The applicability of this review to therapy as recommended by current guidelines has been questioned, as many of the studies included in the primary analysis did not require inhaled corticosteroids to be used, and studies which compared different asthma maintenance regimens were excluded because they were not placebo-controlled. Concomitant asthma treatments and adherence to treatment, differences in baseline disease severity, racial or genetic factors, polymorphism, tolerance, and masking of underlying airway inflammation by long-acting beta2 agonists have all been proposed as possible explanations for the increased risk of adverse outcomes reported with long-acting beta2 agonists.
In contrast to the above studies, a case-control study that included 532 patients under age 65 who had died from asthma, matched with 532 controls with a hospital admission for asthma, found no evidence of adverse effects on mortality with medium to long-term use of inhaled long-acting beta2 agonists. An earlier observational cohort study also found no evidence that salmeterol contributed to deaths reported from asthma.
Current guidelines advocate use of a long-acting beta2 agonist in addition to inhaled corticosteroids, and not as monotherapy, see Management of Asthma
A recent review by the UK MHRA concluded that:
- epidemiological data indicated that since the introduction of long-acting beta-agonists there had been a reduction in asthma-related hospitalisations in adolescents and a decrease in asthma related-mortality in all ages.
- data from controlled clinical study did not reflect the safety concern from postmarketing studies, possibly due to more consistent use of corticosteroids in controlled settings
- the data supported the use of long-acting beta-agonists with inhaled corticosteroids consistent with the UK guidelines on the management of asthma and that to aid compliance in the concomitant use of a corticosteroid, a combination inhaler should be used when appropriate
Tolerance.
As with short-acting beta2 agonists (see Salbutamol), there is evidence that regular use of long-acting beta2 agonists such as salmeterol produces tachyphylaxis to their protective effect against bronchoconstriction, as provoked by stimuli such as allergen, methacholine, or exercise. The authors of a study of the long-term effect of salmeterol on exercise-induced asthma concluded that the decreased bronchoprotective effect over time was due to a decrease in duration of action (to less than 9 hours) rather than tachyphylaxis, but this interpretation was criticised.
There is also some evidence to suggest that symptomatic relief by short-acting beta2 agonists is significantly reduced by regular use of long-acting beta2 agonists. Receptor downregulation, induced by regular use of a long-acting beta2 agonist, has been suggested as the mechanism for this reduction in response and may lead to patients requiring higher doses of beta2 agonists to attain relief from an acute asthma attack.
One study suggested that the greater tachyphylaxis to short-acting beta2 agonists seen with salmeterol compared with formoterol might represent the expression of partial antagonism by salmeterol at beta2 receptors. Whatever the mechanism, the reduced bronchoprotective effect is perhaps more of a concern with long-acting beta2 agonists, since, unlike the short-acting beta2 agonists, their use on a regular basis is recommended. See also Beta2 Agonists, under Interactions of Salbutamol.
Interactions
As for Salbutamol.
For a study suggesting a decreased effect of salbutamol in patients receiving salmeterol, as well as a report of additive effects, see Beta2 Agonists under Interactions of Salbutamol.
Pharmacokinetics
Plasma concentrations of salmeterol are negligible after inhalation of therapeutic doses.
Uses and Administration
Salmeterol is a direct-acting sympathomimetic with beta-adrenoceptor stimulant activity and a selective action on beta2 receptors (a beta2 agonist). When given by inhalation, salmeterol acts as a bronchodilator. The onset of action is about 10 to 20 minutes but the full effect may not be apparent until after several doses. Unlike short-acting beta2 agonists (see Salbutamol), salmeterol is therefore not suitable for the symptomatic relief of an acute attack of bronchospasm.
However, it is long-acting with a duration of action of about 12 hours and is indicated where the regular use of a long-acting beta2 agonist is required for persistent reversible airways obstruction, as in chronic asthma or in some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It may be useful in protecting against nocturnal and exercise-induced asthma attacks. Short-acting beta2 agonists (on an as-required basis) and regular anti-inflammatory therapy should continue to be used.
Salmeterol is used in the form of the xinafoate doses are expressed in terms of the equivalent amount of salmeterol salmeterol xinafoate 1.45 micrograms is equivalentto about 1 microgram of salmeterol. The usual dose is 50 micrograms of salmeterol twice daily from a metered-dose aerosol or dry powder inhaler if necessary, up to 100 micrograms may be inhaled twice daily. For doses of salmeterol used in children, see Administration in Children, below.
Administration in children.
For persistent reversible airways obstruction which requires regular bronchodilatation, including nocturnal asthma and prevention of exercise-induced asthma, children aged 4 to 12 years may be given 50 micrograms of salmeterol twice daily by inhalation.
Asthma.
Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2 agonist (duration of action about 12 hours). Guidelines on the management of asthma, generally recommend that salmeterol should be reserved for use in patients with chronic asthma who have already progressed to inhaled corticosteroids it is not a substitute for corticosteroids. Evidence suggests that, apart from in severe exacerbations, adding a long-acting beta2 agonist to standard dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy may be more effective than increasing the dose of corticosteroid, or than combining a corticosteroid and an anti-leukotriene drug. Salmeterol may also be useful in controlling persistent nocturnal asthma or preventing exercise-induced attacks. There is some evidence that after prolonged use, duration of protection against exercise-induced bron-choconstriction is reduced (see Tolerance, above).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Short-acting beta2 agonists are used as bronchodilators in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, although there is some evidence to suggest that an antimuscarinic might be preferable. Guidelines indicate that long-acting beta2 agonists such as salmeterol may be used for maintenance therapy in moderate and more severe disease. Improvement in lung function and symptoms has been seen in such patients after regular treatment with inhaled salmeterol a reduction in exacerbations has also been seen. Additional benefit has been reported from the use of salmeterol with inhaled corticosteroids.
Preparations
Proprietary Preparations
Argentina: Abrilar Serevent
Australia:: Serevent
Austria: Serevent
Belgium: Serevent
Brazil: Serevent
Canada: Serevent
Chile: Kolpovent Serevent Xemos
Czech Republic: Serevent
Denmark: Serevent
Finland: Serevent
France: Serevent
Germany: Aeromax Serevent
Greece: Serevent
Hong Kong: Serevent
Hungary: Serevent
India: Salmeter Serobid
Indonesia: Serevent
Ireland: Serevent
Israel: Serevent
Italy: Arial Salmetedur Serevent
Japan: Serevent
Malaysia: Serevent
Mexico: Serevent
The Netherlands: Serevent
Norway: Serevent
New Zealand: Serevent
Philippines: Serevent
Poland: Serevent
Portugal: Dilamax Serevent Ultrabeta
Russia: Seretide Serevent
South Africa: Serevent
Singapore Serevent
Spain: Beglan Betamican Inaspir Serevent
Sweden: Serevent
Switzerland: Serevent
Thailand: Serevent
Turkey: Astmerole Serevent
UK: Serevent
USA: Serevent
Venezuela: Salmeter Salspray Serevent
Multi-ingredient
Argentina: Flutivent Neumotide Seretide
Australia: Seretide
Austria: Seretide Viani
Belgium: Seretide
Brazil: Seretide
Canada: Advair
Chile: Aero metro I Plus Aurituss Brexotide Seretide
Czech Republic: Duaspir Seretide
Denmark: Seretide
Finland: Seretide
France: Seretide
Germany: Atmadisc Viani
Greece: Seretide Viani
Hong Kong: Seretide
Hungary: Seretide Thoreus
India: Forair Seretide Seroflo
Indonesia: Seretide
Ireland: Seretide
Israel: Seretide
Italy: Aliflus Seretide
Malaysia: Seretide
Mexico: Seretide
The Netherlands: Seretide Viani
Norway: Seretide
New Zealand: Seretide
Philippines: Seretide
Poland: Seretide
Portugal: Brisomax Maizar Seretaide Veraspir
South Africa: Seretide
Singapore: Seretide
Spain: Anasma Brisair Inaladuo Plusvent Seretide
Sweden: Seretide
Switzerland: Seretide
Thailand: Seretide
Turkey: Seretide
UK: Seretide
USA: Advair
Venezuela: Seretide.
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