ONCE-DAILY BUDESONIDE - 400 MU-G ONCE-DAILY IS AS EFFECTIVE AS 200 MU-G TWICE-DAILY IN CONTROLLING CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

One hundred and sixty seven children on 0-200 mu g/day of inhaled ster oid with asthma symptoms and sub-optimal peak flow values (less than 9 0% of that predicted for their height) were randomly allocated either 400 mu g once daily (nocte with placebo o,m,) or 200 mu g twice daily of budesonide Turbohaler(R) for 8 weeks. Bronchodilator usage and symp toms were reduced in both groups at 4 and 8 weeks compared with baseli ne. There was a significant increase within both groups in morning and evening PEF after 4 and 8 weeks. The increase in evening PEF after 8 weeks was greater in the once-daily group than in the twice-daily grou p but there were no other significant differences between the groups ( morning: +24.6 l/min vs 15.2 l/min, p=0.059; evening: +19.7 l/min vs 8.3 l/min; p=0.013). Budesonide Turbohaler(R) 400 mu g once daily is t herefore as effective as 200 mu g twice daily in achieving asthma cont rol in children.