PEDIATRICS Vol. 88 No. 2 August 1991, pp. 312-319
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Comparison of Albuterol and Metaproterenol Syrup in the Treatment of Childhood Asthma

James D. Wolfe MD1, Gail G. Shapiro MD2, and Paul H. Ratner MD3

1 From the Allergy Section, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, and Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
2 Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle
3 Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

This study compared the acute and chronic effects of albuterol syrup (2 mg) and metaproterenol syrup (10 mg) three times a day over 28 days in 65 children, aged 6 to 9 years, with mild to moderate asthma. Wright peak flow, symptom scores, and rescue medication use were recorded twice daily during the 28 days; the acute cardiopulmonary effects of these syrups were compared over 8 hours on treatment days 1 and 28. Albuterol syrup produced a significantly greater peak magnitude of bronchodilation than metaproterenol, 29% vs 20% above baseline, respectively, on treatment day 1. Albuterol syrup had a duration of action of at least 8 hours and produced greater bronchodilation than metaproterenol syrup from 2 to 8 hours on both treatment days 1 and 28. The chronotropic effect of metaproterenol was greater than that of albuterol at 1 to 1frac12 hours postdose on treatment days 1 and 28. There was a trend toward higher morning and evening Wright peak flow measurements during 28 days of treatment in the albuterol group. Side effects of both drugs were comparable. These findings imply therapeutic advantages of albuterol syrup over metaproterenol syrup in currently recommended doses with respect to improvement in pulmonary function, chronotropic effects, and frequency of dosing required to maintain optimum bronchodilation over a 24-hour period.

Key Words: albuterol • metaproterenol • bronchodilators • asthma • pulmonary function

Submitted on April 9, 1990
Accepted on August 28, 1990


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ALBUTEROL IS BETTER THAN METAPROTERENOL FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
Journal Watch (General), August 16, 1991; 1991(816): 2 - 2.
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