Objective: To determine the ability of montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, to allow tapering of inhaled corticosteroids in clinically stable asthmatic patients.
Design: Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel group study. After a single blind placebo run in period, during which (at most) two inhaled corticosteroids dose decreases occurred, qualifying, clinically stable patients were allocated randomly to receive montelukast (10 mg tablet) or matching placebo once daily at bedtime for up to 12 weeks.
Setting: 23 academic asthma centres in United States, Canada, and Europe.
Participants: 226 clinically stable patients with chronic asthma receiving high doses of inhaled corticosteroids (113 randomised to montelukast and 113 to placebo).
Interventions: Every 2 weeks, the inhaled corticosteroids dose was tapered, maintained, or increased (rescue) based on a standardised clinical score.
Main outcome measures: Last tolerated dose of inhaled corticosteroids.
Results: Compared with placebo, montelukast allowed significant (P=0. 046) reduction in the inhaled corticosteroid dose (montelukast 47% v placebo 30%; least square mean difference 17.6%, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 34.8). Fewer patients on montelukast (18 (16%) v 34 (30%) placebo, P=0.01) required discontinuation because of failed rescue.
Conclusions: Montelukast reduces the need for inhaled corticosteroids among patients requiring moderate to high doses of corticosteroid to maintain asthma control.