What key feature defines Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) regarding the inhaler used?
The single combination inhaler serves both maintenance and reliever functions
Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) represents an advanced strategy, often favored for moderate to severe asthma, that streamlines the routine to a single device. The defining characteristic of MART is that the prescribed combination inhaler—typically containing an ICS and Formoterol (like Symbicort)—is used not only for routine, scheduled maintenance dosing (often twice daily) but is also employed specifically when symptoms arise or when an actual asthma attack occurs. This dual functionality means patients on a MART plan generally do not require a separate, traditional short-acting blue reliever inhaler, simplifying adherence while ensuring every dose contains anti-inflammatory medicine.
