Asthma in adults

Summary of changes

Addition

• Warning regarding nebulisers (regarding infection control)

Medicines 

• For severe asthma: added to also consider magnesium sulfate IV and to give adrenaline if unresponsive
• For moderate asthma: add magnesium sulfate IV
• For ongoing asthma: updated medications for including new combinations and progression

Other

• Updates to medications for severe  attacks — added option of using puffer and spacer for delivery, and addition of prednisolone and magnesium sulphate
• Updates to medications for moderate asthma — order of administration, addition of magnesium sulphate
• Updates to medications for ongoing asthma including new combinations and progression

Primary references

1. Cates CJ, Welsh EJ and Rowe BH (2016) 'Holding chambers (spacers) versus nebulisers for beta-agonist treatment of acute asthma', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9:CD000052, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000052.pub3

2. National Asthma Council Australia (2020) Australian Asthma Handbook, accessed 5 November 2021.