The therapeutic value of oral long-term treatment with terbutaline (Bricanyl) in asthma. A follow-up study of its efficacy and side effects.

A follow-up study comprising 51 patients with chronic intrinsic asthma requiring regular daily peroral bronchodilating drugs and isoprinaline aerosol is presented. Forty-three of the patients required long-term steroid therapy as well. Patients were controlled regularly both before and during peroral treatment with terbutaline. The study was concluded after continuous terbutaline therapy for an average period of 32 months. A subjective improvement was seen in 46 patients. Out of 43 patients requiring long-term steroid treatment, 24 were able to decrease their daily dose of prednisolone and four patients could discontinue steroid therapy. Thirty-five patients decreased their isoprenaline aerosol use and four abandoned the aerosol completely. The need for hospital care was reduced by two-thirds and the total sick leave from work was decreased by two-thirds. In order to test how the bronchi responded after continuous use of terbutaline, spirometry was carried out before and after a subcutaneous injection of terbutaline at the end of the study. No indication of resistance to the drug was found. Tremor occurred occasionally in 16 patients. No toxic effects of the drug have been found.