Nocturnal asthma. Causes and treatment
Bergholtz, B.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 109(16): 1796-1797
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 2749657 Document Number: 344907
Nocturnal asthma usually occurs between 4 AM and 8 AM, and is experienced by 75% of asthmatics. This "early morning dip" is the joint result of several circadian rhythms, and fading effect of medication administered at bedtime. Successful therapy of nocturnal asthma depends on optimal control of daytime symptoms. Effective therapy may be a high dose of an oral sustained release theophylline preparation or a beta-2 agonist. Recently developed long-acting beta-2 agonists for inhalation appear to be promising.