Outpatient management of asthma with regular nebulized beta agonists: comparison of bitolterol mesylate and isoproterenol.
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.
Kemp
J P
JP
Orgel
H A
HA
Grossman
J
J
Reed
C E
CE
Tinkelman
D G
DG
Webb
D R
DR
Ziment
I
I
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
D004983:Ethanolamines; C011685:bitolterol; D007545:Isoproterenol