title: Outpatient management of asthma with regular nebulized beta agonists: comparison of bitolterol mesylate and isoproterenol.
abstract: Nebulized bitolterol solution and isoproterenol solution were compared when used on a regular basis, 2.5 mg three times a day for 1 month by patients with chronic asthma. In this multicenter, double-blind trial; 130 nonsteroid-dependent patients were randomized to receive one of the two treatments concomitantly with their regular asthma medications. On study days, at the beginning of the study and after 2 and 4 weeks, treatments were given in the office or laboratory and patients were monitored with pulmonary function tests for eight hours. Both medications induced rapid bronchodilation that had a longer duration after bitolterol. The incidence of tremor was similar with the two medications. Tachycardia and palpitations were more frequent following isoproterenol. Bitolterol has a much longer duration of action and should be considered as a suitable bronchodilator for regular nebulizer treatment of chronic asthma.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Orgel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Tinkelman
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ziment
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
chemical_list: D004983:Ethanolamines; C011685:bitolterol; D007545:Isoproterenol