Abuja: Dr Emem Jay, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at M and M Fertility Centre, Abuja, has advised asthma patients against relying on oral salbutamol tablets, stating that they are no longer recommended under current guidelines. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr Jay emphasized the importance of inhaled treatment options over oral forms of salbutamol, which are less effective in relaxing the airways.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the oral form of salbutamol can produce more systemic effects, including tremors, palpitations, and a rapid heartbeat, without offering any significant advantage over inhaled treatments for asthma management and control. Dr Jay highlighted that modern asthma management has shifted towards treatments that control underlying inflammation through inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing therapies, rather than relying on short-acting bronchodilators like oral salbutamol.
Dr Jay pointed out that the transition away from oral beta-2 agonists has evolved over decades, supported by evidence showing that inhaled formulations provide more effective bronchodilation with fewer systemic effects. He cited the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, which do not recommend oral salbutamol due to increased adverse effects, and emphasize the use of ICS-containing inhaled treatments, such as ICS-formoterol, for appropriate patients.
He advised individuals currently using or storing salbutamol tablets at home not to panic or discard them automatically, but to consult a qualified doctor for a review of their asthma treatment. Dr Jay stressed the importance of having one’s diagnosis, symptom frequency, inhaler technique, and need for ICS-containing treatment assessed by a healthcare professional to ensure effective asthma management.
While salbutamol remains an important medicine, Dr Jay emphasized that the concern lies with the oral route and the dependence on it, rather than the appropriate use of inhaled anti-inflammatory treatments for asthma. He also noted that although oral salbutamol is registered and available in Nigeria, it is not the preferred modern treatment option for asthma patients.
Dr Jay called for increased awareness among patients and healthcare providers regarding current asthma management recommendations to ensure that people living with the condition receive appropriate, effective, and evidence-based treatment nationwide.