Cardiac and pulmonary effects of therapy with albuterol and isoproterenol.

This study evaluated the cardiac and pulmonary effects of administering multiple inhaled doses of albuterol, isoproterenol sulfate, and placebo in ten patients with reversible obstructive disease of the airways. The pulmonary effects of therapy with albuterol were similar in magnitude to those of isoproterenol but lasted longer. The inotropic and chronotropic effects of therapy with isoproterenol were greater than those of albuterol. It appears that albuterol has beta2-adrenergic selectivity over a wide range of dosages and is an effective bronchodilator drug.