[Dry powdered formoterol, twice a day versus aerosolized salbutamol, four times a day, in patients with stable asthma].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The objective of this multicenter, open randomized study was to compare the effect of inhaled formoterol (dry powder with ISF system) 12 mcg twice daily versus salbutamol (200 mg qid) in patients with bronchial asthma. A total of 160 patients were evaluated with such diagnosis in four specialized centers; the main variable was the maximal respiratory flow (MEF) assessed prior to drug administration (morning and afternoon). In addition to this, vital capacity (VC), forced respiratory volume over one second (FEV-1), and other safety variables were also determined. RESULTS: With regard to MEF the administration of formoterol showed better results (P < 0.05) ever since the first month of treatment. The frequency of adverse events was similar between treatment groups; the formoterol group had fewer nightly wake up periods. CONCLUSIONS: That formoterol is a safe, efficacious and long-acting Beta 2 agonist which can be administered twice daily.