Salmeterol: an inhaled beta 2-agonist with prolonged duration of action.

Salmeterol (Serevent) is an inhaled beta 2-receptor agonist with more than twelve hours' effect duration compared with 4-6 hours for the more short-acting substances bitolterol, fenoterol, salbutamol, and terbutaline. Salmeterol has been studied in several large-scale double-blind multicenter studies with up to one year's duration. More than 6,000 asthmatics have been treated with salmeterol during these controlled studies. All studies show salmeterol to have a significantly better and well-maintained bronchodilating effect with better asthma control, fewer asthma exacerbations, and a decreased need for rescue albuterol inhalations used on demand compared to the treatments in the control groups (200-400 micrograms albuterol q.i.d., inhaled albuterol given only p.r.n., terbutaline given regularly, or individually titrated slow-release theophylline). Salmeterol should be given b.i.d. and in combination with inhaled corticosteroids. Salmeterol seems especially effective in patients with nocturnal symptoms, exercise induced asthma, and in patients sensitive to inhaled irritants such as cold air. The patients should always have short-acting inhaled beta 2-agonists available for break-through attacks. Inhaled salmeterol in combination with inhaled steroids seems to give the best maintenance asthma control available by inhalation today.