title: Controlled release salbutamol tablets versus sustained release theophylline tablets in the control of reversible obstructive airways disease.
abstract: A crossover pilot study was undertaken to compare the acceptability of controlled release salbutamol tablets (8 mg twice daily) with a sustained release theophylline preparation (400-800 mg given once each night) in patients with reversible obstructive airways disease. A 2-week run-in period was used to titrate the theophylline dosage. Patients were then allocated at random to one of the treatments before being immediately crossed over to the other for a further 4 weeks. Thirty-two patients, aged 17-66 years, entered the trial. Seventeen patients (53%) were withdrawn. The majority of the 13 withdrawals due to side-effects of theophylline occurred during the run-in period. There were no statistically significant differences between treatments for either lung function tests performed at the clinic or for peak expiratory flow rate recorded by the patients. The non-asthma symptom score was significantly higher with theophylline than with the salbutamol preparation. A preference for treatment with the controlled release salbutamol tablets was expressed by 11/15 patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vyse
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cochrane
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline; D000420:Albuterol