Drugs that act on the respiratory tract

This review of the 2010 publications on drugs that act on the respiratory tract covers inhaled glucocorticoids, nasal glucocorticoids, beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, anticholinergic drugs, leukotriene modifiers, and phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors. Two special reviews are also included, on the risk of pneumonia with inhaled glucocorticoids and the long-term safety of long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists. Other topics that are discussed include adverse visual reactions to inhaled glucocorticoids, specific adverse reactions to formoterol, salbutamol, and salmeterol, the cardiovascular safety of tiotropium, the association between leukotriene receptor antagonists and Churg-Strauss syndrome, and increased mortality with the use of a combination of azathioprine, prednisolone, and N-acetylcysteine in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.