Oxis®(formoterol given by Turbuhaler®) showed as rapid an onset of action as salbutamol given by a pMDI

AbstractThirty-six adult patients (16 women) with mild to moderate asthma with a mean baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) of 73·8% (46–106%) of predicted normal value and mean reversibility of 24·2% (14·6–47·1%) were included in this double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, placebo-controlled and cross-over study. The patients inhaled single doses 4·5 or 9 μ g of formoterol (Oxis®) via Turbuhaler®salbutamol (Ventolin®) 100 or 200 μ g from a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) or placebo at five randomized visits. Efficacy was measured by FEV1pre-dose and then 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min after inhalation of the study drug. The primary variable of efficacy was the FEV1-value 3 min after dose intake.No statistically significant differences were found between active treatments. All active treatments gave a higher bronchodilating effect at 3 min than placebo: 10·0, 11·4% for salbutamol 100 and 200 μ g and 11·7, 11·8% for formoterol 4·5 and 9 μ g (P