title: Airway effects of salmeterol in healthy individuals.
abstract: The long-acting beta 2-agonist salmeterol has been shown in several in vitro studies to produce non-beta-mediated relaxant effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether these effects have any relevance in humans in vivo. Thirteen healthy individuals were studied in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study on five separate days. The subjects were pre-treated orally with either propranolol 400 mg in order to block beta-adrenoceptor mediated effects or placebo. Two hours after drug intake, three increasing doses of salmeterol (25 + 50 + 100 micrograms), salbutamol (100 + 200 + 400 micrograms) or placebo were given from matched meter dose inhalers at 1-h intervals between doses. Specific airway conductance (sGAW) was measured in a body plethysmograph at the beginning of the experiment and 30 and 60 min after each inhaled dose of the beta-agonists. Salmeterol and salbutamol produced the same maximal increase in sGAW and had the same area under the dose-response curves. Pre-treatment with propranolol totally inhibited the effect of both drugs. In conclusion, salmeterol at clinically used doses did not produce any non-beta-mediated bronchodilating effect in normal individuals, measured as sGAW. Salmeterol and salbutamol showed the same efficacy but salmeterol was four times more potent than salbutamol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergendal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bake
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lötvall
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Skoogh
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Löfdahl
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D011433:Propranolol; D000420:Albuterol