Long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists or tiotropium bromide for patients with COPD: is combination therapy justified?

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2003 Jun;3(3):270-6. doi: 10.1016/s1471-4892(03)00047-x.

Abstract

Bronchodilators are the mainstay of therapy for patients with established chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but, at present, the majority of patients use short-acting agents. There is increasing evidence that long-acting agents, such as the beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonists salmeterol and formeterol, and the new anticholinergic tiotropium bromide provide a better therapeutic option. In the treatment of COPD, long-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonists (LABAs) given twice daily cause the same degree of bronchodilation as tiotropium bromide given once daily. Combined use of an inhaled LABA with tiotropium bromide should provide important therapeutic benefits, as these drugs have distinct and complementary pharmacological actions in the airways. Although clinical trials of this combination have not been performed, clinical experience with Combivent, a combination of a short-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist (salbutamol) and a short-acting anticholinergic (ipratropium bromide), in COPD is encouraging because the bronchodilation produced is of a magnitude greater than that of either component alone. However, because LABAs are given twice daily but tiotropium bromide is required only once daily, the challenge is to develop a combined inhaler that can be employed on a daily basis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists*
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Albuterol / administration & dosage
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Albuterol / pharmacology
  • Albuterol / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bronchodilator Agents / pharmacology
  • Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ethanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Ethanolamines / pharmacology
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use
  • Exercise Tolerance / drug effects
  • Formoterol Fumarate
  • Humans
  • Mucus / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Scopolamine Derivatives / administration & dosage
  • Scopolamine Derivatives / pharmacology
  • Scopolamine Derivatives / therapeutic use*
  • Tiotropium Bromide

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Ethanolamines
  • Scopolamine Derivatives
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Albuterol
  • Formoterol Fumarate
  • Tiotropium Bromide