Inhalation devices for long-acting beta2-agonists: efficiency and ease of use of dry powder formoterol inhalers for use by patients with asthma and COPD.
BACKGROUND
Since the long-acting beta(2)-agonist bronchodilator, formoterol, first became available for the treatment of subjects with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), generic forms of this agent have been launched in a variety of devices. It is timely to review the characteristics of the original dry powder delivery device, the single-dose Aerolizer, its in vitro performance and its comparability with other inhaler devices that are now available for delivery of formoterol.


METHODS
This review focuses on the performance of the formoterol Aerolizer inhaler in comparison with other inhalers. Publically available data (PubMed) on the device performance characteristics of the Aerolizer were reviewed and summarized, together with the results of comparative studies performed by the authors. Published studies (PubMed) on patient handling and inhaler technique that include the Aerolizer are described and studies comparing the clinical effect of formoterol in the Aerolizer with formoterol delivered via other devices were reviewed and are summarized.


RESULTS
The Aerolizer performs consistently in dosing efficiency across a range of inspiratory flow rates, suggesting its suitability for use by patients with differing inspiratory flow abilities. The single-dose, capsule-based nature of the device provides patients with obvious feedback on whether the drug has been taken successfully and the Aerolizer has been shown to be one of the more easily used devices in comparative patient handling studies. Studies comparing the clinical effect of formoterol delivered by different inhalation devices show that formoterol via Aerolizer has an equivalent therapeutic effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Judged on the basis of dosing efficiency, ease of use and clinical equivalence, formoterol Aerolizer remains a useful option in the management of patients with asthma or COPD.
Molimard
Mathieu
M
Departement de Pharmacologie, CHU Pellegrin-Carreire, Bordeaux, France. Mathieu.Molimard@pharmaco.u-bordeaux2.fr
Till
Denise
D
Stenglein
Stephan
S
Singh
Dilraj
D
Krummen
Markus
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000403:Airway Resistance; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D011208:Powders; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*
D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D011208:Powders; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate