Acute dose‐response studies in bronchial asthma with a new corticosteroid, budesonide.

Abstract

1 Budesonide is an epimeric mixture of a new synthetic non‐halogenated glucocorticoid (16 alpha, 17 alpha,‐(22R,S)‐prophylmethylenedioxypregna‐ 1,4‐diene‐11/3,21‐diol‐3, 20‐dione). 2 Acute dose response studies with three different inhaled doses of budesonide, have been carried out in a group of 12 chronic asthmatic patients. 3 The lowest dose (100 micrograms) of inhaled budesonide produced a more marked effect in relieving airflow obstruction, than a much larger (1600 micrograms) oral dose of the drug. 4 When the area under the curve for peak expiratory flow rate values was calculated, a dose‐response relationship could be seen between the different inhaled doses. 5 It appears that budesonide has a predominantly local anti‐asthmatic action in the lung. 1983 The British Pharmacological Society