Salbutamol is the mainstay of treating acute asthma and relieving wheeze. Some children may not respond to this medication. Up to 100,000 children – 13% of all children with asthma – carry two copies of a gene that renders the blue inhaler drug salbutamol ineffective.
If these children need to use their “reliever” inhaler daily they are 30% more likely to suffer an asthma attack than others, a UK research study shows.
Fortunately it is possible to test for the gene change using a simple mouthwash.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8292915.stm
Tags: asthma, reliever, salbutamol, treatment
One should bear in mind that the vast majority of asthma patients will continue to get enormous benefit from their salbutamol inhalers which have a fantastic long term safety profile and only a minority will find it ineffective.