Asthma. Bronchodilators: new developments.

This chapter is concerned with recent controversies and new developments in the area of established bronchodilators, namely beta-agonists, antimuscarinic drugs and methylxanthines. It focuses on the studies concerned with fenoterol and its possible role in asthma deaths in New Zealand, the new long-acting beta-agonists and the place of beta-agonists in the treatment of asthma. The possible reasons for the fact that antimuscarinic drugs have been less effective in general than beta-agonists in asthma are explored and the difficulties of using theophylline in clinical practice and its role in the treatment of asthma are discussed.