Ventolin to Salamol--a crossover study in New Zealand.
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.
Reti
Shane
S
School of Population Health, Auckland University, Auckland. salamol@selectpost.com
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
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000420:Albuterol