title: Ventolin to Salamol--a crossover study in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess asthma stability in adults converted from Ventolin to Salamol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six general practice adults with documented asthma and using Ventolin at least weekly in the previous 12 months, changed their Ventolin for Salamol for a period of 4 weeks. The validated Asthma Control Questionnaire was applied at the beginning and end of the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 36 adults, 6/36 (17%; 95%CI 4-29%) prematurely withdrew mainly due to Salamol ineffectiveness. A further 15/36 (42%; 95%CI 25-58%) could not maintain Salamol alone and returned to Ventolin at some time during the study period with 10/15 (67%; 95% CI 42-91%) citing Salamol ineffectiveness. Of the remaining 15/36 who maintained the study design, nearly all had worse asthma stability 14/15 (93%; 95%CI 80-100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthma stability was significantly worse with Salamol compared to Ventolin. Psychological features related to changing inhalers, different physical aspects of Salamol inhalers, and pharmacological ineffectiveness are possible explanations.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, Auckland University, Auckland. salamol@selectpost.com
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000420:Albuterol