Tests show Salamol asthma inhaler safe, effective

Independent tests have confirmed the Salamol brand of salbutamol asthma inhaler is safe and effective, says the Government drug-buying agency Pharmac.

The agency sees the findings announced yesterday as vindication of its decision, later changed, to replace the popular Ventolin with Salamol as the country's sole Government-subsidised salbutamol asthma inhaler from July 1 last year.

Before then Ventolin was estimated to have been used by 90 per cent of New Zealand's more than 600,000 asthma sufferers.

Pharmac had expected the switch to Salamol, which was introduced to this country from last February, would save taxpayers about $1.7 million over 18 months.

But by last June, about 700 complaints about the new inhaler had been sent to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring, Otago University's Government-contracted medicines surveillance programme. Pharmac then said it would continue subsidising Salamol and Ventolin inhalers at the same level for two years.

Some patients using Salamol complained they clogged up, tasted bad and helped less than Ventolin.

Government medicines assessment agency Medsafe commissioned tests on the Salamol inhalers as a result of the complaints.

Pharmac said testing was carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science and Research in this country and the Therapeutic Goods Administration Laboratories in Australia.

They found Salamol inhalers delivered the correct dosage in line with the product specifications, and that regular cleaning, as specified in the instructions for all CFC-free inhalers, could avert clogging, Pharmac said.

Medsafe was satisfied Salamol met the international requirements and guidelines for quality, safety and efficacy required for a medicine registered and distributed in New Zealand.

Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said the findings reinforced the initial view that Salamol inhalers were just as safe and effective for New Zealanders with asthma as Ventolin inhalers.

"The findings of this report are reassuring," he said.

"The findings show that both patients and prescribers can have confidence in the effectiveness of Salamol, and that there are no clinical issues for people changing from Ventolin to Salamol."

Salamol now accounts for up to 30 per cent of all salbutamol inhalers dispensed in this country.

- NZPA