The TGA has knocked back a proposal to make budesonide available over the counter for asthma, saying it would not curb the overuse of salbutamol. 

The watchdog has not revealed who bid to downschedule the inhaled corticosteroid, but the RACGP, the AMA and patient group Asthma Australia all criticised the proposal when it was put forward in June.

The unnamed applicant argued that selling salbutamol and budesonide in pharmacies would encourage patients to make use of both reliever and preventer medicines. 

Over-reliance on salbutomal alone was a concern with asthma management across the world, they said.