This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre cross-over study compared the effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of fluticasone propionate (750 microg twice daily given via the Diskus) and budesonide (800 microg twice daily given via the Turbuhaler). Two treatment periods of 2 weeks each were preceded by a 2-week run-in period and separated by a 2-week washout per...

OBJECTIVE The efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (MRT) has been demonstrated in phase III clinical studies, but limited data are available in a real-life setting. We examined the pattern of maintenance and as-needed inhaler use in routine clinical practice among patients with asthma receiving budesonide/formoterol MRT (NCT00505388). METHODS This 12-m...

BACKGROUND Budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort) Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) is an effective asthma-management approach that treats symptoms with rapid increases in budesonide/formoterol. The cost-effectiveness of SMART vs higher fixed-dose budesonide/formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone is unknown. METHODS This 6-month, double-blind study randomized patients with asthma uncontrolled...

BACKGROUND Budesonide is a potent corticosteroid commonly prescribed for management of inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The standard for prescribing budesonide is via impregnated nasal saline irrigation (INSI), although recently the mucosal atomization device (MAD) has emerged as a theoretically superior method of distributing medication into the sinuses. The MAD atomizes medicatio...

Background—It is desirable to prescribe the minimal eVective dose of inhaled steroids to control asthma. To ensure that inflammation is suppressed whilst using the lowest possible dose, a sensitive and specific method for assessing airway inflammation is needed. Methods—The usefulness of exhaled nitric oxide (NO), sputum eosinophils, and methacholine airway responsiveness (PC20) for monitoring ...

BACKGROUND The role of fixed airflow obstruction (FAO) in asthma is unclear. OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between FAO and clinical features of asthma and the effect of FAO on treatment response. METHODS Post hoc descriptive analysis of data stratified by FAO category (screening post-albuterol FEV1/FVC <lower limit of normal [LLN] [FAO+] or ≥LLN [FAO-]) from two 12-week, randomized, ...

BACKGROUND Budesonide inhalation suspension and the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast have demonstrated efficacy in children with mild persistent asthma, but comparative long-term studies in young children are needed. OBJECTIVE To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of budesonide inhalation suspension and montelukast. METHODS After a run-in period, children 2 to 8 years old ...

BACKGROUND All currently available inhaled corticosteroids reach the systemic circulation and have the potential to produce adverse effects with long term use. This risk is often assessed by measuring the effect of different inhaled corticosteroids on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in healthy subjects. Absorption of fluticasone propionate and its effects on the HPA axis are great...

1. The aim of this study was to compare the systemic bioactivity of low and high doses of inhaled budesonide and fluticasone propionate given by respective dry powder inhaler devices. 2. A randomised, single blind cross-over design was used in nine healthy subjects who were given 800 micrograms day-1 of budesonide Turbohaler (B800) for 1 week, followed by 1 week of 1600 micrograms day-1 (B1600)...

The main objective of this study was to prepare colon-specific pellets of budesonide, using pectin as film coating. Pellet cores of budesonide were prepared by extrusion / spheronization technique. Pectin, in different ratios was combined with Eudragit RS30D, Eudragit NE30D or Surelease to produce film coating. The dissolution profiles of pectin coated pellets were investigated in pH of 1.2 (2 ...