Did you know that if your child has been diagnosed with asthma, starting an asthma preventer should be considered? 

Children with ongoing symptoms of asthma, or those who have moderate to severe asthma flare-ups, should be using a regular preventer.  

Using a regular preventer medicine can: 

  • improve their quality of life 
  • prevent symptoms 
  • reduce the chance of flare-ups. 

There have been changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that affect how doctors can prescribe one of the preventers for your child. 

The PBS subsidy or benefit for Axotide Junior or Flixotide Junior has been removed when prescribed for the first time to kids aged 6 years or older. However, if originally prescribed to a child before turning 6 years of age, then the benefit will continue. 

If this affects you or your child, you may still access Axotide Junior or Flixotide Junior as a private prescription. If you need subsidised prices to access this medicine, your doctor may choose another preventer which is PBS subsidised. For more information, click the link below. 

Read More About Flixotide Junior and Axotide Junior

19/1/2023

Trimbow

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has recently listed a new combination preventer inhaler for use by people with severe asthma.  

It’s a new puffer called Trimbow and contains 3 medicines in the one puffer (inhaler). 

TRIMBOW is used to prevent symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing and cough in adults with severe asthma. 

What is Trimbow pMDI ? 

Trimbow pMDI (pressurised metered dose inhaler) is a combination preventer puffer. 

Trimbow pMDI: 

  • Trimbow is the brand name which contains the three medicines listed below 
  • pMDI is the device or puffer which you use to deliver the medicines to your lungs. We explain how to use the puffer device below. 

It contains the medicines: 

  • beclometasone dipropionate  
  • formoterol fumarate   
  • glycopyrronium bromide  

 Trimbow may also be called a triple therapy combination preventer. 

Read More About Trimbow

1/4/2022

Trelegy Ellipta

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has listed a new combination preventer inhaler for use by people aged 18 years and over with severe asthma. It’s called Trelegy Ellipta 200/62.5/25 (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol).     

Trelegy Ellipta is a new addition to the list of combination preventer medicines  

  • It is a single daily dose regimen due to the long lasting effects of the medicines it contains.  
  • It is delivered by the Ellipta device which may be a new device for people with asthma.

Trelegy Ellipta may be prescribed and subsidised for people who:

  • Have experienced a serious flareup in the previous 12 months which required treatment with corticosteroid tablets or injection 
  • Are already using optimum asthma preventer medicine 
  • Have had their device technique assessed 
  • Have been assessed for appropriate adherence to their preventer therapy. 

Read More About Trelegy Ellipta

27/7/2021

Budesonide/Formoterol

There has been an update to the way we approach treating mild asthma, with the inclusion of a dual purpose reliever (budesonide/formoterol): which relieves symptoms and reduces the risk of serious flare-ups by treating inflamed airways.

There are now three options to manage symptoms in mild asthma for adults and adolescents over 12 years in Australia. 

  1. Regular low-dose preventer plus blue/grey reliever as needed 
  2. Dual purpose reliever (budesonide/formoterol) to be used as needed  
  3. Blue/grey reliever to be used as needed to treat symptoms

Read More About Budesonide/Formoterol

14/7/2021

Enerzair Breezhaler

Asthma Australia welcomes Enerzair Breezhaler, the first triple therapy in fixed dose combination to be made available in Australia for people with difficult to treat asthma. Enerzair Breezhaler contains the active ingredients (indacaterol, glycopyrronium, mometasone furoate).

The new Enerzair Breezhaler is a new addition to the list of combination preventer medicines.   

  • It is a single daily dose regime due to the long-lasting effects of the three medicines it contains indacaterol, glycopyrronium, and mometasone. It is delivered by the Breezhaler device which may be a new device for people with asthma. See below for device use instructions 
  • The Breezhaler device requires the loading of a capsule inside the device, which may be new for people with asthma 
  • The capsule is to be used with the device and not swallowed.

Read more in our latest media release here or read more via our information page from the link below.

Read More About Enerzair Breezhaler

13/7/2021

Atectura Breezhaler

Atectura Breezhaler (mometasone/indacaterol) is a combination preventer inhaler available by prescription only for adults and adolescents 12 years and over with moderate to severe asthma.

The Atectura Breezhaler is a new addition to the list of combination preventer medicines.

  • It is a single daily dose regime due to the long lasting effects of the two medicines it contains: mometasone and indacaterol
  • It is delivered by the Breezhaler device which may be a new device for people with asthma. See below for device use instructions
  • The Breezhaler device requires the preparation of a capsule inside the device, which may be new for people with asthma
  • The capsule is to be used with the device and not swallowed

Atectura Breezhaler comes in three different dose strengths and your doctor will prescribe the dose strength which is the right one for you.

Read More About Atectura Breezhaler

28/3/2021

Dupixent (Dupilumab)

Asthma Australia welcomes Dupixent (dupilumab), a new monoclonal antibody therapy for people who live with severe uncontrolled asthma caused by type 2 inflammation (allergic or eosinophilic).

Dupixent (dupilumab) should be prescribed by a specialist experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, for adults and adolescents 12 years and over, and presents another treatment option, now within greater reach of more Australians through the PBS listing. The medication is also suitable for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) and has also recently been listed under the PBS for this indication.

To read more about Dupixent (dupilumab) and its treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma, read the joint media release by Sanofi and Asthma Australia or view our Dupixent explainer page from the link below.

Read More About Dupixent (Dupilumab)

Other Recent Changes

GSK is a campaign partner of Asthma Australia and has not been involved in the development of this webpage.