A controlled trial of an oral bronchodilator preparation ('Franol') in asthma

In view of the lack of published data on the oral bronchodilator preparation 'Franol' (120 mg theophylline, 11 mg ephedrine hydrochloride and 8 mg phenobarbitone per tablet) a double-blind study was carried out to compare the effects on lung function of a single dose of 2 'Franol' tablets, 1 'Franol' plus 1 placebo tablet, or 2 placebo tablets over a period of 8 hours in 30 asthmatic patients with reversible airways resistance (mean FEV1 1.31 l increasing to 1.71 l after 200 micrograms salbutamol inhalation). 'Franol' produced dose-dependent bronchodilation. Two tablets caused significant bronchodilation from 90 minutes to 8 hours (peak change from baseline at 2.5 hours: FEV1 20.8%, PEFR 22.3%). One tablet of 'Franol' produced significant bronchodilation only between 60 minutes and 3 hours (change from baseline at 2.5 hours: FEV1 7.5%, PEFR 7.9%). There was no change in lung function with placebo (change from baseline at 2.5 hours: FEV1 5.4%, PEFR 5.9%). Median serum theophylline levels at 2.5 hours were 6.38 micrograms/ml for 2 tablets and 3.18 micrograms/ml for 1 tablet. Median peak phenobarbitone levels were 0.5 micrograms/ml. There were no clinically relevant changes in pulse rate and blood pressure during the study and no adverse events were reported.