Beta-adrenergic drugs in the management of asthma in athletes.

beta-Adrenergic drugs are effective as bronchodilators and as inhibitors of exercise-induced asthma. Inhalation is the route of choice, but technique determines adequacy of delivery of the drug to the lower airways. The duration of bronchodilation can differ from the duration of inhibition of exercise-induced asthma. Albuterol aerosol usually prevents exercise-induced asthma for 4 to 6 hr, but metaproterenol aerosol affords protection to most asthmatics for less than 2 hr. Albuterol aerosol is the drug of choice for prevention of exercise-induced asthma. When a beta-adrenergic drug alone does not afford adequate protection, addition of theophylline, cromolyn, or an inhaled corticosteroid may enhance protection.