Budesonide and formoterol in a single inhaler improves asthma control compared with increasing the dose of corticosteroid in adults with mild-to-moderate asthma.

Background: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of low-dose budesonide/formoterol, 80 micro g/4.5 micro g, bid in a single inhaler (Symbicort Turbuhaler; AstraZeneca; Lund, Sweden) compared with an increased dose of budesonide, 200 micro g bid, in adult patients with mild-to-moderate asthma not fully controlled on low doses of inhaled corticosteroid alone.

Methods: All patients received budesonide, 100 micro g bid, during a 2-week run-in period.