We have previously shown that salbutamol induced hypokalaemia, like adrenaline induced hypokalaemia, is the result of stimulation of a membrane bound beta 2-adrenoreceptor linked to Na+/K+ ATPase. We have also demonstrated that adrenaline induced hypokalaemia is potentiated by therapeutic concentrations of theophylline. 2. In a single-blind study of 14 normal volunteers, we infused salbutamol in doses used in clinical practice and examined the effects of the addition of theophylline alone or combined with (-)-adrenaline on plasma potassium levels, heart rate and blood pressure. The combinations studied were (i) salbutamol + vehicle control adrenaline infusion + placebo theophylline; (ii) salbutamol + vehicle control adrenaline infusion + theophylline; (iii) salbutamol + adrenaline + theophylline. 3. In a randomised, balanced placebo controlled design oral slow release theophylline or placebo was given for 9 days. Subjects were studied twice on the active limb (days 7 and 9) and once on the placebo limb (day 9) and the procedure was identical on each of the 3 study days except for the solutions administered. 4. Theophylline increased salbutamol induced hypokalaemia and in some individuals profound hypokalaemia (less than 2.5 mmol l-1) was observed with these relatively low doses of salbutamol and theophylline. Adrenaline did not further increase the magnitude of the fall in potassium observed. Combining theophylline with salbutamol increased the tachycardia resulting from the salbutamol infusion. Salbutamol infusion caused a fall in diastolic and rise in systolic blood pressure on all 3 study days and this was not altered by either theophylline or adrenaline alone or together.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
