title: A 4-week comparison of salmeterol and terbutaline in adult asthma.
abstract: This was a 4-week, open-label, parallel-group study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of the long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, salmeterol, with the established inhaled bronchodilator, terbutaline, in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate asthma. A total of 243 adult patients was randomized to receive treatment with either salmeterol 50 micrograms bd via a Diskhaler (Glaxo) inhaler (n = 121) or terbutaline 500 micrograms qds via a reservoir powder inhaler device (n = 122). Apart from all bronchodilator treatment which was withdrawn at the start of the run-in period and replaced by inhaled salbutamol to be used as required for symptom relief, all concurrent medications were kept constant throughout the study. Salmeterol produced a significantly greater increase in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) than terbutaline (difference in adjusted means after treatment = 28 l/min; 95% CI = 19-37 l/min; P < 0.001). Likewise, the increase in mean evening PEF was significantly greater following treatment with salmeterol than with terbutaline (difference in adjusted means = 9 l/min; 95% CI = 0-17 l/min; P = 0.045). Salmeterol was associated with a significant reduction in diurnal variation in PEF by comparison with terbutaline (difference in adjusted means = -18 l/min; 95% CI = -24, -12 l/min; P < 0.001). Significant improvements with salmeterol by comparison with terbutaline were also observed in daytime and night-time asthma scores, percentage of symptom-free days and nights, use of additional inhaled bronchodilator, and percentage of days and nights when no additional inhaled bronchodilator was needed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Lungkliniken, Lasarettet, Boras, Sweden.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hermansson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011208:Powders; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D011208:Powders; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D013726:Terbutaline; D000420:Albuterol