METABOLIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF CARBUTEROL AND METAPROTERENOL

[摘要] Metabolic and cardiovascular responses to the selective .beta.-adrenergic bronchodilators, carbuterol and metaproterenol, were studied during an asymptomatic period in 8 male subjects with bronchial asthma diagnosed as mild to moderate. On separate days each individual received placebo, carbuterol 2 mg, carbuterol 4 mg or metaproterenol 20 mg orally in a double-blind fashion. Metabolic and cardiovascular responses were measured periodically for 5 h. Carbuterol 2 mg was indistinguishable from placebo except for small elevations of glucose at 3 and 4 h. Carbuterol 4 mg produced significant increases in glucose, insulin, lactate, free fatty acids, pulse rate and arterial pulse pressure. Metaproterenol produced increases only in plasma glucose and insulin. The majority of patients reported mild drug-related side effects after taking carbuterol 4 mg or metaproterenol 20 mg. Fewer subjective side effects were noted with carbuterol 2 mg. A 2-mg dose of carbuterol may be administered to typical asthmatic subjects without significant subjective or objective side effects. The larger dose (4 mg) may have more side effects.