1800 278 462
1/04/2023
Flixotide Junior and Axotide Junior
Axotide Jnr and Flixotide Jnr are inhaled preventer medicines that are prescribed to treat the inflammation (swelling, redness and mucus production) that causes asthma symptoms. These medicines are very good at preventing or lowering the chance of having asthma symptoms and serious asthma flare-ups.
If you have been told your child needs this medicine, it’s helpful to know how these new rules will affect you and your child and if there are other options.
Who is affected by these changes?
- Parents of kids under 6 years, with Concession Cards, will be impacted the most due to cost increases.
- Anyone who has been prescribed or will be prescribed Axotide Junior® (50mcg) and Flixotide Junior® (50mcg) inhalers will also be impacted by cost and access to these medicines.
Axotide Jnr and Flixotide Jnr will still be available at your local pharmacy. This new pricing will mainly affect families who hold Concession Cards. These changes will affect whether you can access the medicine at a PBS subsidised price.
Why has it changed?
It isn’t clear. The government haven’t explained why they have made this change.
We’d certainly like this information to become available to the public and to Asthma Australia. We are in the process of seeking more information from all parties involved (including you, our consumers) to find a better solution.
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.
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.
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.
- Regular low-dose preventer plus blue/grey reliever as needed
- Dual purpose reliever (budesonide/formoterol) to be used as needed
- Blue/grey reliever to be used as needed to treat symptoms
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.
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.
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.
Other Recent Changes
- Updates to the National Asthma Council Australia’s Asthma Handbook (Version 2.1 2020)
- Salbutamol puffers Asmol, Ventolin, and Zempreon now with a dose counter
- Active ingredient prescribing now in place
- A new Bricanyl Turbuhaler was introduced in Australia on February 1, 2021
- Spiriva Respimat device has been redesigned
GSK is a campaign partner of Asthma Australia and has not been involved in the development of this webpage.
