[Protection from exercise-induced asthma after salbutamol (Ventolin) in powder form, inhaled with the Rotahaler]

15 asthmatic patients with exercise-induced asthma proved by a first run of 6 minutes were selected for a second run some days later. Salbutamol powder (0.4 mg) was inhaled from a Rotahaler immediately before the second run. FEV1 decreased to 83 +/- 10%, 75 +/- 9% and 78 +/- 14% at the end, and 10 and 20 minutes after the first run. FEV1 increased to 110 +/- 16%, 110 +/- 15% and 113 +/- 14%, respectively, when salbutamol powder was inhaled from the Rotahaler before the second run (p less than 0.0005). Control values of FEV1 before the two runs were comparable (p less than 0.25). The heart rate increased to 186 +/- 3 per minute during the first run, to 182 +/- 3 after the second run (p less than 0.0025). Bronchodilation by salbutamol was evident in spite of the 6 minutes of exhausting exercise (p less than 0.0125). Furthermore, salbutamol powder partially or totally suppressed exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in 14 out of 15 cases. Powder inhalation of salbutamol from the Rotahaler is recommended as a valuable alternative medication to inhalation from a pocket pressurized metered aerosol device. The Rotahaler offers advantages, e.g. in patients with known exercise-induced asthma before exhausting athletic activity. The absence of fluorohydrocarbons in the airways may be important in such situations.