Table 2: Usual Dosages for Long-Term-Control Asthma Medications

Table 2:
Usual Dosages for Long-Term-Control Medications
Medication	Dosage Form	Adult Dose	Child Dose*
Inhaled Corticosteroids (See Estimated Comparative Daily Dosages for Inhaled Corticosteroids-Table 3)
Systemic Corticosteroids (Applies to all three corticosteroids)
Methylprednisone	2,4,8,16, 32 mg tablets	7.5-60 mg daily in a single dose in a.m. or qod as needed for control Short-course "burst" to achieve control: 40-60 mg per day as single or 2 divided doses for 3-10 days (with/without taper)	0.25-2 mg/kg daily in single dose in a.m. or qod as needed for control Short-course "burst": 1-2 mg/kg/day, maximum 60 mg/day for 3-10 days
Prednisolone	5 mg tablets, 5 mg/5 mL, 15 mg/5 mL
Prednisone	1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg tablets; 5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL
Long-acting Inhaled Beta₂-Agonists (Should not be used for symptom relief or for exacerbations. Use with inhaled corticosteroids.)
Salmeterol	MDI 21 µg/puff DPI 50 µg/blister	2 puffs q 12 hours 1 blister q 12 hours	1-2 puffs q 12 hours 1 blister q 12 hours
Formoterol	DPI 12 µg/single-use capsule	1 capsule q 12 hours	1 capsule q 12 hours
Combined Medication
Fluticasone/Salmeterol	DPI 100, 250, or 500 µg/50µg	1 inhalation bid; dose depends on severity of asthma	1 inhalation bid; dose depends on severity of asthma
Cromolyn and Nedocromil
Cromolyn	MDI 1 mg/puff nebulizer 20 mg/ampule	2-4 puffs tid-qid 1 ampule tid-qid	1-2 puffs tid-qid 1 ampule tid-qid
Nedocromil	MDI 1.75 mg/puff	2-4 puffs bid-qid	1-2 puffs bid-qid
Leukotriene Modifiers
Montelukast	4 or 5 mg chewable tablet 10 mg tablet	10 mg qhs	4 mg qhs (2-5 yrs) 5 mg qhs (6-14 yrs) 10 mg qhs (>14 yrs)
Zafirlukast	10 or 20 mg tablet	40 mg daily (20 mg tablet bid)	20 mg daily (7-11 yrs)(10 mg tablet bid)
Zileuton	300 or 600 mg tablet	2,400 mg daily (give tablets qid)
Methylxanthines (Serum monitoring is important [serum concentration of 5-15 µg/mL at steady state]).
Theophylline	Liquids, sustained- release tablets, and capsules	Starting dose 10 mg/kg/day up to 300 mg max; usual max 800 mg/day	Starting dose 10 mg/kg/day; usual max: < 1 year of age: 0.2 (age in weeks) + 5 = mg/kg/day > 1 year of age: 16 mg/kg/day

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