Comparison of the clinical efficacy of salmeterol and sustained-release tulobuterol (patch) on inadequately controlled asthma patients on inhaled corticosteroids.

Patients with inadequately controlled asthma on inhaled corticosteroid (400 to 1,600 microg/day chlorofluorocarbon beclomethasone equivalent) were treated with concomitant salmeterol (n = 18) or sustained-release tulobuterol (patch) (n = 18), or the inhaled corticosteroid dose was doubled (add-on) (n = 13) to compare clinical efficacy. (1) At 8 weeks, morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates were significantly improved in the salmeterol group only (p < 0.01). (2) Symptom and sleeplessness scores improved in the order, salmeterol (symptom score; p < 0.0001), inhaled corticosteroid add-on, and tulobuterol groups. (3) Only the salmeterol group showed significant improvement in the total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score (p < 0.05). (4) No adverse reactions considered related to the study drugs were observed.