BACKGROUND Epidemiological evidence has suggested a link between beta(2)-agonists and increases in asthma mortality. There has been much debate about possible causal links for this association, and whether regular (daily) long-acting beta(2)-agonists are safe. OBJECTIVES The aim of this review is to assess the risk of fatal and non-fatal serious adverse events in trials that randomised patien...

BACKGROUND The long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) formoterol has an onset of effect comparable to that of salbutamol. Consequently, the combination of formoterol and budesonide in one inhaler, approved for maintenance use, can potentially be used for reliever therapy. This study compared the onset of relief from induced bronchospasm with a single dose of budesonide/formoterol versus standard salb...

BACKGROUND An increase in serious adverse events with both regular formoterol and regular salmeterol in chronic asthma has been demonstrated in previous Cochrane reviews. OBJECTIVES We set out to compare the risks of mortality and non-fatal serious adverse events in trials which have randomised patients with chronic asthma to regular formoterol versus regular salmeterol. SEARCH METHODS We i...

backgrounds: all of long-acting β2-agonists are beneficial in maintenance treatment of asthma but their use in relieving acute asthma attacks is not well known. the aim of this study was to compare rapid bronchodilatory effects of salmeterol and formoterol in patient with moderate to severe asthma. methods: it was a randomized, double blind, cross-over study on 60 patients with moderate to seve...

We examined whether a pretreatment with formoterol, oxitropium bromide, or salmeterol might modify the dose-response curves to inhaled salbutamol in patients with stable and partially reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixteen outpatients with partially reversible, stable COPD received 24 microg formoterol, 50 microg salmeterol, 200 microg oxitropium bromide, or placebo on...

Pulmonary macrophages are a target for inhaled therapies. Combinations of long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABA) and glucocorticosteroids have been developed for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined two LABA, salmeterol and formoterol, and the glucocorticosteroid, budesonide, on cytokine release from monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) to determine whether an...

OBJECTIVE To review three prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical studies of formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer; Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Basel, Switzerland) at dosages of 12 microg and 24 microg bid for the treatment of patients with asthma. DATA SOURCES Clinical studies submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration in support of the approval of Foradil Aerolizer fo...

Inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay of asthma therapy, but there is now compelling evidence that addition of a long-acting inhaled β2-agonist, such as formoterol, gives better control in terms of reduced symptoms, improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in patients with mild to severe persistent asthma than increasing the dose of corticosteroids in patients not fully in control by...

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of formoterol, ipratropium bromide and a placebo on walking distance, lung function, symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. A total of 183 patients (mean age 64 yrs, 86 female) with moderate-to-severe nonreversible COPD participated in this randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study. After...

Background—The main adverse eVects of inhaled long acting â2 agonists relate to their systemic activity. The systemic effects seen over eight hours after inhalation of three doses of salmeterol and formoterol were therefore compared in normal subjects. Methods—A double blind, randomised, crossover study was carried out in 16 healthy subjects who inhaled formoterol 24, 48 and 96 μg (via Turbuhal...