A comparison of flunisolide inhaler and beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler in bronchial asthma

Ninety-nine patients, who had never previously taken inhaled steroids were enrolled in a randomized, single-blind, parallel study, the aim of which was to compare the efficacy and safety of flunisolide inhalation, 500 mcg twice daily, with beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler 100 mcg four times daily for the treatment of chronic asthma. The treatment period was for 6 weeks. The patients were examined clinically at entry, week 3 and week 6 and both treatment groups showed a marked improvement in almost all parameters during the course of the study. Flunisolide was statistically significantly superior to beclomethasone dipropionate for wheezing at week 6, coughing at week 6 and chest tightness at weeks 3 and 6. The number of asthma attacks per day decreased significantly more with flunisolide treatment than with beclomethasone dipropionate. The over-all evaluation of efficacy by both doctors and patients also showed flunisolide to be superior to beclomethasone dipropionate. In several other parameters there was a trend shown favouring flunisolide, and beclomethasone dipropionate did not show a superiority over flunisolide in any efficacy parameter. Both drugs were well-tolerated, with unpleasant taste being the most frequent complaint in the flunisolide group. No patient in either group withdrew from the study because of adverse events. In this study, flunisolide inhaler was more effective than beclomethasone dipropionate inhaler for the treatment of chronic asthma exhibited by patients who had never been treated with inhaled steroids.