Bronchodilator effect of the association ipratropium bromide plus fenoterol (low doses) versus terbutaline and salbutamol in bronchitic patients.

In 12 chronic bronchitic out-patients, during 3 successive days, the variations of FEV1 and Vmax25 were studied at 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, and 180 min after inhalation of: [0.1 mg fenoterol (F) associated with 0.04 mg ipratropium bromide (IB)]; [0.2 mg salbutamol (S)], and [0.5 mg terbutaline (T)]. There were no secondary effects resulting from any treatment. Maximum effectiveness appeared on FEV1 at 60 min with F + IB, and at 45 min with S and T. On Vmax25, it was produced after 30 min with F + IB and no modifications in this parameter were observed either with S or with T. After 15 min, there were changes on FEV1 with the three products: P less than 0.001 for F + IB and S; p less than 0.01 for T. The variation persisted for up to 120 min with F + IB (p less than 0.001) and with S (p less than 0.05), and for up to 60 min with T (p less than 0.01). With F + IB, Vmax25 increased since after 15 min (p less than 0.001) and up to 60 min (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, the association of a small dose of F to IB provides as positive results as S, and better than T, in a group of chronic bronchitic out-patients.