title: Onset of action of budesonide/formoterol Spiromax(®) compared with budesonide/formoterol Turbuhaler(®) in patients with COPD.
abstract: Budesonide/formoterol (BF) is available in two delivery systems, the dry powder inhaler (DPI) Turbuhaler and a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) for use in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Spiromax DPI was recently developed as an alternative to Turbuhaler DPI. In the present study, we examined whether there is a difference in the onset of bronchodilatation between BF 320/9 μg delivered by Spiromax and BF 320/9 μg delivered by Turbuhaler in 16 outpatients with stable moderate-to-severe COPD. Our results confirm the rapid onset of action of formoterol when combined with budesonide in patients with COPD and indicate that the onset of bronchodilation induced by BF Spiromax is faster than that elicited by BF Turbuhaler. Furthermore, they show that BF fixed-dose combination does not induce a decrease in SpO2 or an increase in heart rate in patients with COPD, irrespective of the DPI used to deliver this combination. Given the evidence that both inhalers have an equal safety profile, BF Spiromax offers to prescribers and COPD patients an effective alternative to BF Turbuhaler depending also on their preference, availability and cost.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mario.cazzola@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Josuel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ora
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Paolo
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calzetta
authors.affiliation: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Chair of Respiratory Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogliani
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D058995:Dry Powder Inhalers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination
keywords: Budesonide; COPD; Formoterol; Spiromax; Turbuhaler