[Use of sympathomimetics in the treatment of asthma]

There are many sympathomimetic products available in treatment of asthma, such as ephedrin, isoproterenol, orciprenalin, salbutamol, terbutalin..., used by oral or injectable route and spray. In the spray form, the sympathomimetic products have immediate and intense activity but the easiness of their use leads to a dose multiplication or overdose ineluctably, and thus involves cardiac and respiratory accidents which can be fatal. Their prescription should be slightly different according to the clinical type of asthma in the patient. On the other hand the oral sympathomimetic products are less inclined to overdose.