title: Evaluation of procaterol and albuterol (salbutamol) aerosol in the treatment of asthma.
abstract: Procaterol aerosol (10 micrograms/inhalation) was compared to albuterol (salbutamol) aerosol (100 micrograms/inhalation), two inhalations t.i.d. or q.i.d., in 333 outpatients with reversible bronchial airway obstruction over a 12-week period in a double-blind randomized and parallel study. Predose and postdose pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed initially and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of therapy. Patients maintained a daily diary of asthma symptom scores. A significantly higher percentage of patients receiving procaterol (59%) continued therapy on a t.i.d. schedule rather than a q.i.d. schedule compared with patients receiving albuterol (48%, P less than .05). Pulmonary function tests indicated similar improvement in both groups. Clinically significant improvement in mean FEV1 was maintained for four to seven hours postdose for procaterol and for three to six hours for albuterol. Adverse experiences were reported in 15% of procaterol-treated patients and 17% of albuterol-treated patients. Headache and tremor were most frequent, with no significant differences in frequencies between groups. Both procaterol and albuterol were highly effective in improving pulmonary function and controlling symptoms of asthma; both were well tolerated. Procaterol had a longer duration of action, and more patients were controlled on a t.i.d. dosage regimen.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Tashkin
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000420:Albuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017265:Procaterol; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000420:Albuterol; D017265:Procaterol