title: Duration of protection of calcium channel blockers against exercise-induced bronchospasm: comparison of oral diltiazem and inhaled gallopamil.
abstract: The present study was conducted to determine the duration of the positive effect of oral diltiazem and inhaled gallopamil in mild asthmatic volunteers, ages 18-37 years, with a history of exercise-induced asthma and a 25-56% decrease in FEV1 after a standardized exercise challenge. Oral diltiazem 120 mg, inhaled gallopamil 10 mg, and placebo were administered in a double blind, randomized, crossover manner on different days 48 h apart. Diltiazem was administered 90 min and gallopamil 30 min before the first exercise challenge. Challenges were then repeated 3 and 6 h later. Neither diltiazem nor gallopamil significantly altered baseline FVC, FEV1, or FEF25-75. The mean maximum decrease in FEV1 after the first challenge was 16.8% after gallopamil, 25.2% after diltiazem and 30.1% after placebo. The mean post-exercise decrease in FEV1 after gallopamil was significantly smaller than after placebo. There were no significant differences in the post-exercise decreases in FEV1 between the three treatment regimens 3 and 6 h later. Thus, inhaled gallopamil provided significant protection against exercise-induced bronchospasm, but the beneficial effect was modest and short in duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hendeles
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005711:Gallopamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011897:Random Allocation; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D005711:Gallopamil; D004110:Diltiazem