title: Formoterol therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review of the literature.
abstract: Numerous clinical trials have investigated the use of formoterol, a long-acting beta2-agonist, for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Formoterol provides bronchodilation as rapidly as albuterol, yet its efficacy and duration of action are similar to those of salmeterol. It demonstrates better spirometric efficacy than either ipratropium or theophylline alone, and its efficacy improves when administered in combination with ipratropium. Formoterol improves patients' quality of life and has a good safety profile. It is better tolerated than theophylline and has a similar tolerability to albuterol, salmeterol, and ipratropium. In short, formoterol is a bronchodilator with rapid onset of action and prolonged duration of action with a favorable efficacy, safety, and tolerability profile when used in patients with COPD. It provides a valid therapeutic option in the pharmacologic treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Cioppa
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kottakis
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D004983:Ethanolamines; D013806:Theophylline; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate