Objective and subjective comparisons of terbutaline and rimiterol bronchodilator aerosols

Double-blind studies of the bronchodilator effects of rimiterol, terbutaline and a combination of rimiterol and terbutaline were performed in patients with chronic asthma. An objective assessment in 21 patients showed no significant differences between the mean improvements in FEV1 during the first 30 minutes after drug administration. At 45 minutes and thereafter terbutaline produced a significantly greater degree of bronchodilatation than rimiterol or the combination of rimiterol and terbutaline. In a subjective study of 27 patients it was found that they were able to detect the more prolonged duration of bronchodilator activity of terbutaline but not the more rapid speed of onset of action of rimiterol.