Beta-Agonists and Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Beta-agonists inhalers are being used in bronchial asthma for last about 70 years. It rapidly became popular amongst the asthmatics as it provides quick relief of the symptoms. Soon it was noticed that although it gives prompt relief, as a result its overuse was causing increased number of deaths from asthma, due to its cardiac side effects. Therefore, its excessive use was curtailed, and specific Beta - 2 agonists as fenoterol which will have mainly bronchial effect with minimal cardiac side effects was produced. Later longacting Beta - 2 agonists as salmeterol and formoterol were made available. But in all cases where any form of Beta - 2 agonist was used, the same tendency of increase in asthma- deaths were seen.