Long-term evaluation of a new aerosol bronchodilator, carbuterol, and comparison with isoproterenol.

A new aerosol bronchodilator, carbuterol, was compared with isoproterenol during a three-month double-blind trial in 15 matched pairs of patients with relatively stable and partially reversible obstructive airways disease. Pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline and at 30 and 120 minutes after bronchodilator administration on days 1, 15, 28, 56, and 84. Isoproterenol and carbuterol produced improvement in all parameters at 30 and 120 minutes. The per cent changes produced by isoproterenol were superior at 30 minutes, while carbuterol was as effective as isoproterenol at 120 minutes. Atrial and ventricular premature contractions and palpitations were more frequent in the isoproterenol group. Evaluation of the patients' symptomatic responses showed carbuterol to be superior to isoproterenol. We conclude that carbuterol is a useful bronchodilator when aerosolized.