Anticholinergic therapy in chronic asthma.
Although 'chronic asthma' is a loosely defined disease, it may be equated approximately with non-allergic or 'intrinsic' asthma arising in adult life. In patients with this condition anticholinergic agents, particularly ipratropium bromide, have been shown to have a useful and rather prolonged bronchodilator action. This bronchodilatation approaches that achieved by therapeutic doses of Beta-agonists and is not associated with undesirable effects such as difficulty in sputum clearance. In conclusion anticholinergic agents are a safe and useful adjunct to other bronchodilators in patients with chronic asthma.
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001286:Atropine Derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009241:Ipratropium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged
D001286:Atropine Derivatives; D009241:Ipratropium