title: The use of twice daily nedocromil sodium in the treatment of asthma.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of nedocromil sodium inhalation aerosol (4 mg of Tilade administered by metered-dose inhaler) given twice daily was compared with placebo in 112 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma who had been receiving maintenance therapy with oral or inhaled bronchodilators or both. After a 2-week run-in period and a subsequent 2-week baseline period, patients were randomized to active treatment (n = 56) or placebo (n = 56) for 8 weeks. All maintenance bronchodilators were withdrawn before the baseline period, and patients entered the treatment period only after demonstrating a specified level of asthma symptoms. Twice daily administration of nedocromil sodium improved all asthma symptoms in these patients who had symptoms as a result of the withdrawal of their maintenance theophylline and/or oral and inhaled beta 2-agonist bronchodilators. During the primary time period (treatment weeks 5 to 8), statistically significant between-group differences favored nedocromil sodium for the asthma summary score (primary variable, p = 0.001), daytime asthma (p = 0.001), and sleep difficulty caused by asthma (p = 0.006). Furthermore, significant reductions in the use of as-needed rescue medications were reported in the nedocromil sodium group (p = 0.003) compared with the placebo group. Final overall opinions of treatment effectiveness expressed by physicians (p = 0.016) and patients (p = 0.002) strongly favored nedocromil sodium.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Creticos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Comp
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Findlay
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D017835:Nedocromil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D017835:Nedocromil