Salbutamol DPI as effective as budesonide-formoterol to relieve methacholine induced bronchoconstriction: Study

A recent research published in the recent issue of Respiratory Medicine journal found Salbutamol Easyhaler as a safe and sustainable reliever for the methacholine challenge test (MC) and is recommended for usage during asthma attacks. It also demonstrates that Salbutamol Easyhaler is not inferior to Ventoline Evohaler with spacer in reducing acute bronchoconstriction.

For individuals with airway conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inhalation is the recommended method of medicine delivery. Salbutamol, a short-acting β2-agonist has long been a mainstay in the management of acute asthma symptoms including dyspnea. For asthma, budesonide and formoterol together are used as a maintenance medication and it has been demonstrated that using it as maintenance and relief treatment (MART) lowers the relative chance of undergoing severe asthma attacks. The coordination issue is resolved by dry powder inhalers (DPIs), which are simpler to operate and breath-actuated than particulate matter detectors (pMDIs). Therefore, Jussi Karjalainen and colleagues wanted to demonstrate the non-inferiority of Salbutamol Easyhaler dry powder inhalers versus Ventoline Evohaler pMDI with Volumatic spacer in treating methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction.

The participants in this randomized, parallel-group experiment underwent the methacholine challenge test to diagnose asthma. As a relief, participants with a minimum 20% reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were randomly assigned to receive either Budesonide-formoterol Easyhaler (2 × 160/4.5 μg), Ventoline Evohaler with spacer (4 × 100 μg), or salbutamol Easyhaler (2 × 200 μg). If the FEV1 did not return to at least −10% of baseline, the therapy was repeated.