Intramuscular and intravenous albuterol in the treatment of asthma

The efficacy and side effects of intravenous and intramuscular albuterol were determined in 13 adult asthmatic patients whose airway responsiveness had previously been evaluated with inhaled albuterol. In each patient, a single dose of intramuscular or intravenous albuterol was given at the same time on separate days. There was no significant difference in bronchodilator effect between the two routes of administration; both were effective. By 15 minutes after injection, both had produced an increase in FEV1 (mean, 0.32 liter), but both were associated with transient increases in heart rate (mean, 8 beats/min, P less than 0.01). It is concluded that minimal cardiovascular side effects can be achieved with either parenteral form of albuterol.