title: The long and short of beta2-agonists.
abstract: For patients whose asthma is not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy alone, increasing the dose of ICS or the addition of a long-acting beta(2)-agonist is recommended. Greater improvements in lung function are achieved with the addition of a long-acting beta(2)-agonist to ICS therapy, rather than doubling the dose of ICS. Formoterol and salmeterol have a similarly long duration of effect (up to 12 h). However, as a result of their different chemical structures, there are marked pharmacological differences in the mechanism of action which affect their speeds of onset. These differences amount to a more rapid onset of effect for formoterol compared with salmeterol. Long-acting beta(2)-agonists appear to be well tolerated at elevated doses. These two features (tolerability at high doses and rapid onset of effect) support the use of formoterol as a reliever medication in addition to use in maintenance therapy. The long-acting beta(2)-agonists can be considered as beneficial additions to ICS therapy for the management of moderate-to-severe asthma.
authors.affiliation: The Lung Pharmacology Group, Göteborg University, Sweden. lotvallj@mailer.mednet.gu.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lötvall
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000420:Albuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate