Conditions: Asthma
Keywords: Asthma Formoterol Long Acting Beta Adrenergic Bronchodilator Symbicort Aerochamber
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 16
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
This study will compare the amount of bronchial tube relaxation from the Formoterol medicine contained in the Symbicort pressure Metered Dose Inhaler(pMDI)(a combination of Budesonide, a steroid, and Formoterol, a drug which relaxes the bronchial smooth muscle. The comparison will be using the pMDI in the usual fashion to the pMDIs and a spacer which allows more time for breathing in the medication. Breathing tests will be measured over a 12 hour period for the comparison.

Detailed description:
Sixteen subjects will receive treatment in a cross-over design. They will inhale Symbicort 160/4.5 two inhalations in the manner prescribed in the approved package insert. The second intervention will be the inhalation of Symbicort 160/4.5 two inhalations through a valved holding chamber (Aero Chamber Plus). Breathing tests including spirometry will be measured at various time periods over a 12-hour time frame in each intervention. Comparison will be made of the two periods to demonstrate that the use of the valved holding chamber does not adversely affect the bronchodilation of the formoterol component of the combination drug.

Arms:
arm 1: The intervention in this group will use inhalation from the pMDI containing budesonide/formoterol pMDI 160/4.5 2 inhalations as approved. (FDA approved product information) without a spacer. The pulmonary function tests (PFTs) will be collected at baseline and for a period of 12 hours post inhalation of 2 inhalation of budesonide /formoterol; pMDI160/5. arm 2: The intervention in this group will use the pMDI budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 with a valve holding chamber spacer device, Aerochamber Plus which is the intervention being studied The PFTs will be collected at baseline and for a period of 12 hours post inhalation of 2 inhalation of Symbicort 160/5. This is the intervention to be studied for comparison to the non-spacer inhalations..

Interventions: intervention 1: pMDI budesonide/formotrol 160/4.5 is in group 1 intervention 2: Symbicort 160/4.5 plus Aerochamber Plus included in group 2
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: The asthmatic subjects will receive budesonide/formoterol pMDI 160/4.5 pMDI 2 inhalations used in conventional fashion, and have pulmonary function measured over 12 hours who are expected to show bronchodilation. intervention 2: Symbicort 160/4.5 2 inhalations will be administered through a valved holding chamber, Aerochamber Plus, Pulmonary functions will be measured over 12 hours in asthmatic subjects who are expected to show bronchodilation.

Protocol document: