ONCE‐DAILY BUDESONIDE: 400 μg ONCE DAILY IS AS EFFECTIVE AS 200 μg TWICE DAILY IN CONTROLLING CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

SUMMARY One hundred and sixty seven children on 0‐200 μg/day of inhaled steroid with asthma symptoms and sub‐optimal peak flow values (less than 90% of that predicted for their height) were randomly allocated either 400 μg once daily (nocte with placebo o.m.) or 200 μg twice daily of budesonide Turbohaler® for 8 weeks. Bronchodilator usage and symptoms were reduced in both groups at 4 and 8 weeks compared with baseline. 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 group 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® 400 μg once daily is therefore as effective as 200 μg twice daily in achieving asthma control in children.