Table 3 Overview of the main controller therapies used for the treatment of asthma.

Beclomethasone (Qvar, generics)

MDI: 100–800 µg/day, divided bid

MDI: 100-200 μg/day, divided bid (for children 5-11 years)

Budesonide (Pulmicort)

DPI: 400–2400 µg/day, divided bid

Nebules: 1–2 mg bid

DPI: 200-400 μg/day, divided bid (not indicated for children < 6 years)

Nebules: 0.25-0.5 mg bid (for children 3 months to 12 years)

Ciclesonide (Alvesco)

MDI: 100–800 µg/day

MDI: 100–200 µg/day (not indicated for children < 6 years)

Fluticasone (Flovent HFA, Flovent Diskus)

MDI/DPI: 100–500 µg bid

MDI/DPI: 50–200 µg bid (for children 4-16 years)

MDI: 100 µg bid (via a pediatric spacer device with a face mask) (for children 12 months to 4 years)

Budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort)

DPI (maintenance): 100/6 µg or 200/6 µg, 1–2 puffs od or bid; max 4 puffs/day

DPI (maintenance and reliever): 100/6 µg or 200/6 µg, 1–2 puffs bid or 2 puffs od; plus 1 puff as needed for relief of symptoms (no more than 6 puffs on any single occasion); max 8 puffs/day

Not indicated for children under 12 years of age

Fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair MDI, Advair Diskus)

MDI: 125/25 µg or 250/25 µg, 2 puffs bid

Diskus: 100/50 µg, 250/50 µg or 500/50 µg: 1 puff bid

MDI: not indicated for children under 12 years of age

Diskus: 100/50 µg, 1 puff bid (not indicated for children <4 years)

Mometasone/ formoterol (Zenhale)

Not indicated for children under 12 years of age

Montelukast (Singulair)

10 mg tablet od (taken in the evenings)

5 mg chewable tablet od (taken in the evenings) (for children 6-14 years)

4 mg chewable tablet od or 4 mg packet of granules od (taken in the evenings) (for children 2-5 years of age)

Zafirlukast (Accolate)

20 mg tablet bid, at least 1 h before or 2 h after meals

Not indicated for children under 12 years of age

Omalizumab (Xolair)

150–375 mg sc every 2–4 weeks (based on patient’s weight and pre-treatment serum IgE level)

Not indicated for children under 12 years of age