Two identically designed, randomized, multicenter, single-dose, crossover studies were conducted in patients aged ≥18 years with mild to moderate asthma previously treated with inhaled corticosteroids. After 2 weeks on twice-daily budesonide pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) 160 μ g, patients received a randomized sequence of budesonide/formoterol pMDI 80/4.5 μ g 2 inhalations (160/9 μ g), fluticasone/salmeterol dry powder inhaler (DPI) 250/50 μ g 1 inhalation, albuterol pMDI 90 μ g 2 inhalations (180 μ g), and placebo pMDI (3-to 14-day washout periods). Improvements in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) at 3 minutes were significantly (p < 0.001) greater after treatment with budesonide/formoterol pMDI compared with fluticasone/salmeterol DPI and similar to that of albuterol pMDI. In addition, significantly (p < 0.001) more patients treated with budesonide/formoterol pMDI achieved a 15% improvement in FEV₁ within 15 minutes compared with patients treated with fluticasone/salmeterol DPI and placebo. Thus, the early bronchodilatory effects of budesonide/formoterol pMDI were greater than with fluticasone/salmeterol DPI.