SHIFT Newsroom · UK

Asthma alert links reliever overuse with poorer control

The MHRA’s 2025 reminder emphasises anti-inflammatory treatment alongside short-acting reliever prescribing.

The MHRA has reminded prescribers that excessive reliance on short-acting beta 2 agonist inhalers, including salbutamol and terbutaline, can conceal worsening asthma. Its 24 April 2025 notice connects overuse with a greater risk of severe attacks and death. MHRA source

The communication reflects updated UK guidance: a short-acting reliever should not be prescribed for asthma at any age without an inhaled corticosteroid. It calls for treatment review when an as-needed reliever is required more than twice weekly, and urgent review when reliever prescriptions increase or anti-inflammatory medication is not collected. MHRA source

This is a prescribing and monitoring message, not an instruction for someone to abandon their prescribed rescue inhaler. The evidence described includes observational associations; an inhaler count alone does not establish the cause of an individual asthma attack. MHRA source

For readers, the relevant next conversation is about their existing asthma plan and symptom control with the clinical team. The regulator also distinguishes routine review from urgent help when prescribed reliever treatment fails to ease worsening breathing symptoms. MHRA source

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