Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Asthma and COPD
- 1 Pathology of asthma and COPD: inflammation and structure
- 2 Glucocorticosteroids
- 3 β2-adrenoceptor agonists
- 4 Anticholinergic bronchodilators
- 5 Antiallergic drugs
- 6 Drugs affecting the synthesis and action of leukotrienes
- 7 Theophylline and selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of respiratory disease
- 8 Potential therapeutic effects of potassium channel openers in respiratory diseases
- 9 Tachykinin and kinin antagonists
- 10 Drugs affecting IgE (Synthesis inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies)
- 11 Drugs targeting cell signalling
- Part II Diffuse parenchymal lung disease
- Part III Infection
- Part IV Pulmonary vascular diseases
- Part V Lung cancer
- Part VI Cough
- Index
3 - β2-adrenoceptor agonists
from Part I - Asthma and COPD
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Asthma and COPD
- 1 Pathology of asthma and COPD: inflammation and structure
- 2 Glucocorticosteroids
- 3 β2-adrenoceptor agonists
- 4 Anticholinergic bronchodilators
- 5 Antiallergic drugs
- 6 Drugs affecting the synthesis and action of leukotrienes
- 7 Theophylline and selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors in the treatment of respiratory disease
- 8 Potential therapeutic effects of potassium channel openers in respiratory diseases
- 9 Tachykinin and kinin antagonists
- 10 Drugs affecting IgE (Synthesis inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies)
- 11 Drugs targeting cell signalling
- Part II Diffuse parenchymal lung disease
- Part III Infection
- Part IV Pulmonary vascular diseases
- Part V Lung cancer
- Part VI Cough
- Index
Summary
Introduction
β-adrenoceptor agonists afford symptomatic bronchodilator relief against a wide range of stimuli including antigen, exercise, pharmacological agonists, physiological stimuli and chemical irritants and are therefore the agents of first choice in the treatment of the symptoms of asthma. The major action attributed to these agonists is functional antagonism of airway smooth muscle contraction. However, it is also recognized that these agonists inhibit the activity of various cell types within the lung including mast cells, which may also contribute toward their beneficial action. The relatively short duration of action of bronchodilator agonists including salbutamol, terbutaline and fenoterol has led to the development of longer acting agonists including salmeterol and formoterol. These agents have a considerably longer duration of action that is advantageous in the treatment of nocturnal asthma and in the day-to-day management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is no doubting the effectiveness of this drug class in acute exacerbation of asthma. However, a number of studies have raised concerns that regular chronic treatment with β2-adrenoceptor agonists may also have a detrimental impact in asthma, a controversy which has intensified following the introduction of salmeterol and formoterol. This chapter will summarize our current understanding of the pharmacology of this drug class and their use in the chronic treatment of asthma and COPD.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Drugs for the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases , pp. 56 - 104Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003