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Published on: November 4, 2010
Combination therapy of theophylline and terbutaline as sustained-release preparations in patients with asthmatic
A P van der Vet1, J Kreukniet, R H van Drost
1Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, University of Limburg, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In a group of ten patients with chronic asthmatic bronchitis, the effect of monotherapy with theophylline and terbutaline and the combination of both drugs, as sustained-release tablets, was compared to placebo, in a double-blind cross-over, triple dummy at random study. Lung function parameters, tremor measurements, c-AMP plasma levels, theophylline- and terbutaline-plasma levels were determinated. Monotherapy with theophylline and terbutaline in a relatively low dosage achieved a good lung function improvement without severe side effects, as compared to placebo. The combination of both drugs in the same dosage achieved a statistically significant enhancement of the lung function improvement, as compared to monotherapy, without an increase of side effects. An additional effect of theophylline and terbutaline on bronchodilation is demonstrated.
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