BACKGROUND Knowing the extent of the systemic effects of a new beta 2 agonist relative to an established drug is important for the prediction and interpretation of side effects. A recent study in which the effect of cumulative doses of salbutamol was compared with single doses of salmetreol suggested that, weight for weight, salmeterol may be up to 10 times more potent than salbutamol. This cur...

BACKGROUND Salbutamol is frequently used as a bronchodilator for infants who wheeze. Many single dose studies have questioned its effectiveness. AIMS To investigate the response of wheezy infants to salbutamol over an extended time period in order to elucidate either symptomatic relief or a protective effect. METHODS Eighty infants under 1 year, with persistent or recurrent wheeze and a per...

We examined the effect of salbutamol on dry airflow-induced bronchoconstriction (AIB) and acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction (Ach-IB) in the canine lung periphery using a wedged bronchoscope technique. Collateral system resistance (Rcs) and airway wall temperature (Taw) were monitored in a peripheral lung segment before, during and after airflow challenge. Rcs before and after aerosolize...

Racemic R,S-salbutamol is taken to relieve bronchial constriction. Only the R-enantiomer has bronchodilating properties. The S-enantiomer has been proposed to cause in vitro bronchial hyperreactivity in guinea-pigs. Stereoselective elimination of salbutamol has been shown, with S-salbutamol being eliminated at a slower rate than R-salbutamol. This study questioned whether rates of stereoselecti...

The effect of 5 mg nebulised salbutamol on the cardiorespiratory responses to a progressive maximal exercise test was investigated in eight asthmatic (mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 3.48 (1.0) litres) and eight non-asthmatic men. Exercise tests were performed on a bicycle ergometer after administration of nebulised salbutamol or matched saline placebo. In the asthmatic subje...

Introduction: The World Health Organization has estimated that 15 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are lost annually due to asthma, representing 1% of the total global disease burden. Racemic Salbutamol and Levo Salbutamol both have potent broncho-dilatory effect and therefore, both are used in the treatment of Asthma. The study was conducted to compare bronchodilatory efficacy po...

INTRODUCTION Beta2 agonists have several properties that could be beneficial in acute lung injury (ALI). We therefore chose to study the effect of inhaled beta2 agonist use (salbutamol) on duration and severity of ALI. METHODS We undertook a retrospective chart review of 86 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with ALI, who had varying exposure to inhaled salbutamol. The cohort was di...

BACKGROUND It would be convenient to be able to measure airway responsiveness to histamine and to bronchodilator drugs on the same day, but whether this can be done reliably is unknown. METHODS The effect of a prior histamine challenge on the bronchodilator response to salbutamol after spontaneous recovery of FEV1 to 95% of the prechallenge level was studied in two groups of asthmatic childre...

The effects of intravenous salbutamol (4 mug/kg) were compared with those of aerosol salbutamol (200 mug) in 10 asthmatic patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Both methods of administration produced equal bronchodilatation. Intravenous salbutamol caused significant increases in plasma insulin and glucose levels and a fall in serum potassium concentration in addition to tachycard...

Forty-five patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied to compare the acute effects of ipratropium bromide (60 µg), salbutamol (300 µg) and placebo (3 puffs) on the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV 1) and forced vital capacity (PVC). Ipratropium bromide produced a significantly greater improvement than salbutamol in both FEV1 and FVC at 15,60 and 180 minutes afte...