Q: My wife is a regular user of Asthalin and Combitide 250 inhalers. She is now one and half months pregnant. She has uneasiness in breathing if Combitide is not used. Can she continue using these drugs? Will it harm the baby if these inhalers are used?

A:It is extremely important that the blood of a woman during pregnancy is well saturated with oxygen. Hence anti-asthma treatment must continue. Fortunately products such as salbutamol (Asthalin) and salmeterol plus fluticasone (Combitide) are taken via inhalational route that reaches the lungs directly. Very little is absorbed into the blood stream. There will be no adverse effect on the baby.