Twelve hours' bronchodilating effect of inhaled formoterol in children with asthma: a double-blind cross-over study versus salbutamol.

Thirteen children, mean age 10.9 yr, with perennial asthma, were studied with respect to the duration of the bronchodilating effect of formoterol, a new long-acting beta 2 agonists for inhalation. The duration of action of formoterol metered dose aerosol (12 micrograms) was compared with salbutamol metered dose aerosol (200 micrograms) in a double-blind cross-over study. Formoterol was found to have significantly better bronchodilating effect 8 hr (P less than 0.01) and 12 hr (P less than 0.05) after inhalation of the drug. Formoterol (24 micrograms) was given single-blindly on the third trial day and showed a tendency towards a better bronchodilating effect (n.s.) than formoterol (12 micrograms). There was no difference between the treatments with regard to adverse reactions such as tremor, palpitations, raised heart rate or anxiety. Formoterol proved to be superior to salbutamol as a long-acting bronchodilator in children with bronchial asthma.