A comparison of ipratropium bromide, deptropine citrate and placebo in asthma and chronic bronchitis.

A new anticholinergic aerosol, ipratropium bromide, was compared in a double-blind cross-over trial with an established preparation, deptropine citrate, and placebo in 16 patients with defined asthma or chronic bronchitis. Ipratropium bromide produced a significantly greater and more rapid bronchodilation than did deptropine citrate or placebo in the doses used, and its effect was slightly greater in the asthmatic than in the chronic bronchitic group. No unwanted effects on secretion were seen with ipratropium bromide.