COMPARISON OF ORAL THEOPHYLLINE AND SALBUTAMOL BY INHALATION IN ASTHMATIC PATIENTS

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Abstract
The bronchodilator effects of 375 mg theophylline orally and 200 microg salbutamol by pressurized aerosol were compared in a randomized, cross-over, double-blind trial in fourteen asthmatic patients. The mean peak percentage FEV1 increase from control was 43.7% at 60 min after salbutamol and 30.3% at 180 min after theophylline. Salbutamol produced significantly greater bronchodilatation than theophylline for the initial 30 min (P < 0.01). Theophylline demonstrated a longer duration of action than salbutamol, with a significantly greater FEV1 response at 360 min (P < 0.02). There was no significant difference between the total effect of each drug for the 360 min period, as calculated by the areas under the respective FEV1 response curves.