Oral atropine in the treatment of chronic asthma

Six adult patients with chronic asthma were treated with oral atropine sulfate 0.5 mg or placebo four times a day in a double-blind, crossover trial lasting eight weeks. Subjects returned at weekly intervals for spirometry and clinical evaluation. The baseline pulmonary functions did not differ significantly between the atropine and placebo periods. The only side effects noted were slight dryness of the mouth in three patients. The three patients who complained of mouth dryness felt that they were better while they were taking oral atropine in that they had fewer acute episodes of asthma. The administration of 0.5 mg oral atropine four times a day is ineffective in improving baseline pulmonary functions in chronic asthmatics, although it may decrease the incidence and severity of acute asthmatic episodes.