Abstract

The cardiopulmonary effects of single oral doses of terbutaline were evaluated in children with chronic bronchial asthma. Fifteen children, 6 to 13 yr of age and weighing 22.3 to 51.8 kg, were treated with 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5.0 mg of terbutaline using a double-blind crossover vs placebo design. Before treatment and at intervals up to 420 min following treatment, measurements were made of lung volumes, vital capacity, FEV 1, maximum expiratory flow volume curves, airway resistance (R aw), and specific airway conductance (G aw/V L). Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and electrocardiograms were also obtained. The most consistent and sensitive indicators of pulmonary function were G aw/V L and FEV 1, both of which showed significant improvement after all doses, The peak improvement of these parameters was proportional to the dose of terbutaline. Cardiovascular effects of terbutaline consisted of small increases in systolic blood pressure or transient EKG changes and were clinically unimportant. Other side effects such as headache, tremor, dizziness, and nausea, although proportional to the dose of terbutaline, were mild and transient. The dose of 2.5 mg terbutaline produced the most improvement in pulmonary function in relation to the number of side effects.

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