[Slow-release salbutamol in the treatment of nocturnal asthma. Result of a comparative study vs. long-acting theophylline].

In a multicentre, randomized, cross-over double-blind, double placebo trial the effectiveness and tolerability of slow-release oral salbutamol (SRS) were compared with those of long-acting (LA) theophylline (T) in the treatment of nocturnal asthma of adults. Forty-nine patients (mean age 37 years) entered the study after a pre-trial period during which a placebo and inhaled salbutamol were used as reference and to test the criteria of inclusion. The number of awakenings due to asthma symptoms was the same with SRS, and T, falling from 1.27 in the pre-trial period to 0.44 under SRS and 0.42 under T. The scores of nocturnal asthma symptoms were improved with both types of treatment. The number of puffs of inhaled salbutamol necessary during the night decreased from 1.94 in the pre-trial period to 1.15 under SRS and 0.92 under T. The number of patients improved was exactly the same in both groups. The ventilatory parameters measured by respiratory function tests at different visits and daily by the patients themselves were also improved. The principal minor side-effects were tremor (5 cases) and irritability (3 cases) with SRS, and nausea (6 cases), headache (3 cases) and asthenia (2 cases) with T; an overdose of T resulted in malaise in one patients. It is concluded that slow-release oral salbutamol administered in doses of 8 mg b.d. is effective in controlling nocturnal asthma, easy to take and very well tolerated.