Cardiopulmonary effects of terbutaline and a bronchodilator combination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Because the therapeutic and toxic effects of oral therapy with bronchodilator drugs are poorly documented in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we investigated the effects of administration of terbutaline (5 mg) and of a combination drug (Marax) containing ephedrine (25 mg), theophylline (130 mg), and hydroxyzine (10 mg) on pulmonary function, sevenhour taped electrocardiograms, blood pressure, and symptoms in a controlled double-blind study in 16 such patients. Therapy with terbutaliae increased the forced expiratory volume in one second more than the combination drug (Marnx) at 30 minutes and one hour (P<0.0S), but both types of therapy improved the forced vital capacity and forced expirntory flow between 25 and 75