Comparison of efficacy and ease of handling of salmeterol and terbutaline powder inhalers.

A multicentre, randomised, open, parallel-group study was performed to compare the efficacy, tolerability and ease of handling of salmeterol xinafoate 50 micrograms twice daily via the Diskus inhaler with terbutaline sulphate 500 micrograms four times daily via the Turbuhaler inhaler. Two hundred and sixty-three patients (aged 18-79 years, baseline FEV1 50-90% predicted, mean PEFR 85% of response to salbutamol) were randomised to treatment with salmeterol (n = 136) or terbutaline (n = 127). A statistically significant difference in favour of salmeterol was seen between treatment groups for the primary efficacy variable, mean morning PEFR (difference in adjusted means 25.4 l/min, p < 0.001). Within the groups randomised to each device, ease of handling assessments favoured the Diskus inhaler over the Turbuhaler inhaler. More patients liked the Diskus inhaler than the Turbuhaler inhaler (98% vs 72%, p < 0.001). The Diskus inhaler received better scores than the Turbuhaler inhaler for all features assessed in the device questionnaire.