Long-term effects of a long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, salmeterol, on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with mild asthma

Article Abstract:

Patients with mild asthma who receive long-term treatment with salmeterol may develop tolerance to its protective effect against constriction of the bronchi, or the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, a type of drug used to protect against increased airway response to bronchoconstrictors. Among 24 patients with mild asthma, 12 were treated with 50 micrograms of inhaled salmeterol twice a day and 12 received a placebo, an inactive substance, over an eight-week period. Patients experienced significant protection against airway response to a bronchoconstrictor during initial treatment with salmeterol. The protective effect of salmeterol against bronchoconstriction progressively decreased over the eight-week treatment period. Airway response to a bronchoconstrictor did not change over the eight-week treatment period in the patients who received a placebo.

Airway (Medicine), Airway

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A comparison of salmeterol with albuterol in the treatment of mild-to-moderate asthma

Article Abstract:

Salmeterol may be more effective than albuterol for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate asthma. Among 201 patients between 12 and 73 years old with mild to moderate asthma, 70 were treated with 42 micrograms of salmeterol twice a day, 68 were treated with 180 micrograms of albuterol four times a day and 63 received a placebo, an inactive substance. Patients treated with one dose of salmeterol experienced a greater improvement in lung function than those treated with albuterol on the first day of treatment and at four weeks, but not at eight or 12 weeks. Patients in the salmeterol group experienced a 22% decrease in the number of days with symptoms, compared to a 15% decrease for those in the albuterol group and a 6% decrease for those in the placebo group. None of the patients in any of the treatment groups experienced any severe side effects.

Albuterol

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Oral Montelukast Compared with Inhaled Salmeterol To Prevent Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

Article Abstract:

The protective effect of the orally-taken leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast maintains its therapeutic levels over time preventing constriction of the bronchia from exercise in asthmatic adults. The inhalant salmeterol oes not. group of 191 asthmatic adults were given either montelukast once a day or salmeterol twice a day for eight weeks in a double-blind study. Testing was done before and after exercise. After three days, and continuing on for four and eight weeks, the patients using montelukast continued to maintain improvement. The salmeterol group showed improvement after three days but their level of protection dropped significantly at weeks four and eight.

Evaluation, Prevention, Bronchial spasm

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