Long-term efficacy and safety of nebulized metaproterenol solution in bronchial asthma.

A 5-percent solution of the sympathomimetic bronchodilator, metaproterenol sulfate (Alupent) was evaluated by comparison with an 0.5-percent solution of isoproterenol in a double-blind crossover study before and after 60 days of inhalation of metaproterenol administered at least four times daily via a hand-bulb nebulizer. Data from tests of pulmonary function obtained in 27 asthmatic patients indicated that metaproterenol sulfate in this dose form surpassed isoproterenol in the duration of effect after seven weeks of continuous administration. Side effects did not necessitate the interruption of metaproterenol therapy. No evidence of the development of tolerance to the drug was shown by any of the patients at the end of the study.