title: Intravenous salbutamol for childhood asthma: evidence-based medicine?
abstract: Intravenous salbutamol is commonly used to treat children with severe asthma unresponsive to inhaled β2-agonist therapy. However, in this setting, there is little clinical trial data demonstrating its effectiveness. Additionally, there are significant concerns that intravenous salbutamol-dosing recommendations for children with acute asthma are excessive, and unnecessarily raise the potential for adverse reactions, such as lactic acidosis and tachycardia which, by increasing respiratory workload, exacerbate respiratory failure. Here, we review salbutamol clinical pharmacology and toxicology, evidence relating to its use in acute asthma and highlight gaps in the evidence base.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Royal Derbyshire Hospital, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Starkey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulla
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences & Graduate Entry Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital Centre, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sammons
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pandya
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000420:Albuterol
keywords: Evidence Based Medicine; Pharmacology; Respiratory