Inhaled mometasone furoate: A review of its use in persistent asthma in adults and adolescents.

Inhaled mometasone furoate (Asmanex) is a synthetic corticosteroid indicated for the first-line maintenance prophylactic therapy of persistent asthma in adults and adolescents. It is formulated for delivery via a breath-actuated dry powder inhaler (DPI) [Twisthaler].Inhaled mometasone furoate delivered by DPI is effective in treating patients with persistent asthma. It improves pulmonary function and health-related quality of life, reduces symptoms and decreases oral corticosteroid requirements in severe disease. It is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and is at least as clinically effective as other inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled mometasone furoate is equally effective in controlling asthma when administered in two divided doses or as a single daily dose. Once-daily administration of mometasone furoate 200 microg in the evening was more effective than administration of the same dosage in the morning. The drug is well tolerated, with low systemic bioavailability and minimal systemic activity. Therefore, it is an effective and convenient option for controller therapy of persistent asthma in adults and adolescents.