Comparison of the orally administered anti-allergy agent, ketotifen with sodium cromoglycate in the prophylaxis of bronchial asthma.

Ketotifen at an oral dose of 1 mg twice daily was compared with sodium cromoglycate a dose of 20 mg four times daily by inhalation in a double-blind parallel group study lasting 12 weeks. Data relating to 60 patients were analyzed and showed that stabilised asthmatics continued to be stable during the 12-week treatment period on both drugs. There was a significant reduction within the ketotifen group in day and night scores at the end of the 12-week period and more patients on ketotifen had increased evening peak expiratory flow rate values compared with sodium cromoglycate. Ketotifen and sodium cromoglycate were equally well tolerated.