title: Use of inhaled anticholinergic agents in obstructive airway disease.
abstract: In the last 2 decades, anticholinergic agents have been generally regarded as the first-choice bronchodilator therapy in the routine management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, to a lesser extent, asthma. Anticholinergics are particularly important bronchodilators in COPD, because the vagal tone appears to be the only reversible component of airflow limitation in COPD. The inhaled anticholinergics approved for clinical use are synthetic quaternary ammonium congeners of atropine, and include ipratropium bromide, oxitropium bromide, and tiotropium bromide. This article reviews the most current evidence for inhaled anticholinergics in obstructive airway disease and summarizes outcomes reported in randomized controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Care, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 6248, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. restrepor@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Ruben D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Restrepo
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists