A 21-day double-blind study of the effect of adding sustained-release theophylline (Nuelin SA) to inhaled salbutamol in patients with asthma.

The effect of adding sustained-release theophylline tablets (Nuelin SA) in a dose of 350 and 700 mg daily to regular treatment with inhaled salbutamol was assessed in a double-blind cross-over study in 19 patients with reversible airways obstruction. In this combination, oral theophylline, even in the relatively low dose of 350 mg a day, produced a significant additional improvement in lung function. Subjectively, patients showed a preference for the combination of theophylline and inhaled salbutamol compared with the beta-stimulant alone.