Comparative investigations on pirbuterol, salbutamol and placebo aerosols in bronchial asthma.

In a single blind crossover study 12 asthmatics received in randomised order single doses of pirbuterol (200 and 400 microgram), salbutamol (200 microgram) and placebo-aerosols, in order to determine the extent and duration of bronchodilator activity, the optimum dosage, the incidence, type and degree of side effects and the cardiovascular as well as hematologic, renal and hepatic functions after inhalative administration. All patients were checked by repeated pulmonary function studies, ECG and extensive laboratory tests. No significant differences were found between salbutamol 200 microgram and pirbuterol 400 microgram when lung functions were studied over 4 hr following inhalation. Pirbuterol 400 microgram and salbutamol 200 microgram were significantly better than pirbuterol 200 microgram. There were no side effects or changes of clinical relevance in pulse rate, blood pressure, ECG or laboratory test results. Pirbuterol is a well tolerated bronchodilator which appears to be of clinical importance in inhalative treatment of bronchospastic disease.