[Asthma and COPD - dosing recommendations at beginning and end of treatment]

In the treatment of asthma and COPD for two drug classes slowly increasing starting doses or tapering at the end of therapy is required: In the case of allergen specific immunotherapy (desensitisation) with allergen extracts gradual increases of doses are necessary to prevent allergic shock. In the case of prolonged systemic treatment of asthma or COPD with glucocorticoids tapering is necessary to avoid symptoms of adrenal gland insufficiency after drug withdrawal or exacerbation of the underlying disease. In the short term treatment of asthma exacerbations with systemic glucocorticoids tapering is not necessary, for COPD suitable studies are still lacking.