EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF A 12-WEEK TREATMENT WITH INHALED FORMOTEROLIN PATIENTS WITH REVERSIBLE OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG-DISEASE

Formoterol, a new beta(2)-agonist, and salbutamol were given as aeroso ls twice and four times daily, respectively, to patients with reversib le obstructive lung disease. The study was controlled and double blind , and continued for 12 weeks. Ninety-nine patients from five study cen ters were included and 89 patients could be properly evaluated. The fo rmoterol-treated patients used significantly less rescue medicine (sal butamol aerosol) and had higher morning PEF values. For the other effi cacy variables (daytime FEV(1.0), evening PEF, patient and investigato r global evaluations, night sleeping time) and tolerance (side effects noted by patients, blood and wine laboratory values, ECG, patient and investigator global evaluation), there were no significant difference s between the formoterol- and the salbutamol-treated groups.