Outpatient management of asthma with regular nebulized beta agonists: comparison of bitolterol mesylate and isoproterenol
Kemp, J.P.; Orgel, H.A.; Grossman, J.; Reed, C.E.; Tinkelman, D.G.; Webb, D.R.; Ziment, I.
Annals of Allergy 59(1): 17-20
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4738 PMID: 3300436 Document Number: 297723
Nebulized bitolterol solution and isoproterenol solution were compared when used on a regular basis, 2.5 mg three times a day for 1 month by patients with chronic asthma. In this multicenter, double-blind trial, 130 nonsteroid-dependent patients were randomized to receive one of the two treatments concomitantly with their regular asthma medications. On study days, at the beginning of the study and after 2 and 4 weeks, treatments were given in the office or laboratory and patients were monitored with pulmonary function tests for eight hours. Both medications induced rapid bronchodilation that had a longer duration after bitolterol. The incidence of tremor was similar with the two medications. Tachycardia and palpitations were more frequent following isoproterenol. Bitolterol has a much longer duration of action and should be considered as a suitable bronchodilator for regular nebulizer treatment of chronic asthma.