Comparison of fenoterol, isoproterenol, and isoetharine with phenylephrine aerosol in asthma

The bronchodilator effect of fenoterol hydrobromide (0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 mg) was compared with either isoproterenol (2.8 mg) or isoetharine (5 mg) with phenylephrine (1.25 mg) in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. When delivered by an intermittent positive-pressure breathing device to 24 nonsmoking young adult asthmatic subjects, fenoterol produced significant improvement in forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), in maximum midexpiratory flow (FEF25-75%), and in forced expiratory flow at 25 per cent of vital capacity (FEF25%) for 6 to 8 hours, whereas isoproterenol and isoetharine with phenylephrine produced improvement for 1 and 2 hours, respectively. The lowest dosage of fenoterol was as effective as the highest but had fewer adverse effects.