title: Bronchodilators: current and future.
abstract: Bronchodilators are central in the symptomatic treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although there is often limited reversibility of airflow obstruction. Three classes of bronchodilators (β2-agonists, antimuscarinic agents, methylxanthines) are currently available, which can be used individually, or in combination with each other or inhaled corticosteroids. Novel classes of bronchodilators have proved difficult to develop. The muscarinic β2-agonist molecules approach likely provides the best opportunity to develop combinations that combine corticosteroids with dual-bronchodilator activities, and thus potentially achieve better efficacy than is apparent with the current combination products that dominate the treatment of COPD.
authors: Unit of Respiratory Clinical Pharmacology, Department of System Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, Rome 00133, Italy. Electronic address: mario.cazzola@uniroma2.it.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Cazzola
authors: Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria Gabriella
authors: MG
authors: Matera
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D013806:Theophylline
keywords: Antimuscarinic agents; Choice of bronchodilators; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Emerging bronchodilators; Methylxanthines; β(2)-Agonists