[Peroral terbutaline in the treatment of patients with severe irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease]

This investigation assesses the effect of oral terbutaline in doses of 7.5 mg twice daily as compared with placebo in patients with moderate to severe chronic airflow limitation (CAL) without reversibility. Seventeen patients completed this double-blind randomised cross-over trial. Diaries with reports of dyspnoea during activities of daily living and peak-flow measurements, were obtained. Measurement of pulmonary function, walking distance and various scorings of function after treatment for three and five weeks were assessed. The investigation demonstrates that in patients with CAL treatment with terbutaline tablets may lead to improvement of several subjective effect variables although no real improvement in the majority of objective effect variables is observed. In patients with irreversible obstructive reduction of pulmonary function, in whom no other form of treatment can be considered, oral treatment with beta-2-agonists may be attempted. If no effect is obtained, the treatment should be withdrawn after one to two months.