Inhaled procaterol versus salbutamol in bronchial asthma

Procaterol is a new, potent, long-acting beta-2-adrenergic bronchodilator. The magnitude and duration of the immediate bronchodilatation produced by inhaled procaterol aerosol have been compared with those produced by inhaled salbutamol aerosol in 20 asthmatic patients. Patients inhaled two puffs of procaterol (20 micrograms) or two puffs of salbutamol (200 micrograms) and PEF, FVC and FEV1 were measured after 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min. The changes in mean PEF, FEV1 and FVC values were greater after procaterol than salbutamol, but the difference in bronchodilatation was not significant. The response to rimiterol after 180 min was greater in the salbutamol group. The increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure were slightly higher after procaterol. Eleven patients reported adverse effects; 5 after procaterol, 3 after salbutamol, and 3 after both drugs. Thus, procaterol was a potent bronchodilator when inhaled as a single dose of 20 micrograms, but it did not appear to be an ultra long-acting preparation.