Tulobuterol in childhood asthma: single dose ranging and repeated oral dose comparative studies

Fifteen asthmatic patients participated in a dose-ranging study using tulobuterol syrup in single doses of 10 to 60 mcg/kg. A second trial was performed to compare tulobuterol and terbutaline in 64 asthmatic children. The tulobuterol dosages were 30 and 40 mcg/kg twice daily; the terbutaline dosage was 75 mcg/kg three times daily. The dose-ranging study showed that tulobuterol had a rapid and prolonged bronchodilator action, even at the lower doses. Tulobuterol had a more prolonged duration of action than terbutaline in the comparative study. Both drugs had statistically comparable magnitudes of effect. Adverse reactions were minimal. No laboratory abnormalities occurred, and blood pressure and pulse rate were clinically unaffected by either drug. Tulobuterol twice daily had an equal or greater positive clinical effect on pulmonary function in asthmatic children than terbutaline three times a day.