Oral salbutamol vs fenoterol in childhood asthma

A study to compare the effects of single oral doses of salbutamol (4 mg) and fenoterol (5 mg) was carried out in 22 asthmatic children aged 6-14 years. The patients received both drugs sequentially on two consecutive days within a week in a randomized, double-blind, crossover fashion. Peak expiratory flow rate, spirometry, flow-volume loops and whole body plethysmography were performed basally, at half-an-hour and hourly from 1 through 6 h. In 17 cases, all four pulmonary tests were performed also 8 h after drug administration. No significant difference in bronchodilator power was observed. Both drugs produced a significant increase in heart rate, which was more pronounced after fenoterol. These data suggest that, at the doses used, salbutamol may be a preferable choice.