A comparison of sustained-release terbutaline with ordinary salbutamol in bronchial asthma

The effects of a sustained-release preparation of terbutaline, depot tablets, 7.5 mg 2 times/day were compared with ordinary salbutamol tablets 4 mg 3 times/day. The study, performed for 2 weeks, one week on each treatment, was double-blind, double-dummy, crossover with randomized allocation of the drugs. Twenty-five patients with chronic bronchial asthma completed the trial. The morning Peak-Flow was higher during the period on the depot tablets compared to that on the ordinary tablets (p less than 0.05). No differences were found in side effects.