Nebulization versus injection in ambulatory treatment of acute asthma: a comparative study

Br J Dis Chest. 1988 Oct;82(4):347-53. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(88)90087-3.

Abstract

Nebulization treatment of acute asthma with terbutaline and ipratropium bromide, given either separately with a 30-minute interval or combined as single inhalation, was compared with injection treatment with a combination of terbutaline given subcutaneously and theophylline given intravenously. Seventy-seven episodes of acute asthma were studied. Nebulization treatment gave the same degree of bronchodilation as the injections, both immediately after treatment [measured as increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and improvement of dyspnoea] and during the following 6 days (measured by PEFR recordings at home). The injection treatment caused a moderate increase in heart rate, whereas no circulatory side-effects were noted during nebulization treatment. Administration of ipratropium bromide 30 minutes after terbutaline was not more effective than the combination of both substances as a single nebulization.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aerosols
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Atropine Derivatives / administration & dosage*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Ipratropium / administration & dosage*
  • Ipratropium / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Terbutaline / administration & dosage*
  • Terbutaline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Atropine Derivatives
  • Ipratropium
  • Terbutaline