Research Article
Metabolic effects of salbutamol: comparison of aerosol and intravenous administration.
Br Med J 1977; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6058.413 (Published 12 February 1977) Cite this as: Br Med J 1977;1:413
- A Neville,
- J B Palmer,
- J Gaddie,
- C S May,
- K N Palmer,
- L E Murchison
Abstract
The effects of intravenous salbutamol (4 mug/kg) were compared with those of aerosol salbutamol (200 mug) in 10 asthmatic patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Both methods of administration produced equal bronchodilatation. Intravenous salbutamol caused significant increases in plasma insulin and glucose levels and a fall in serum potassium concentration in addition to tachycardia and tremor, whereas aerosol salbutamol produced only a small transient increase in the plasma glucose level. The initially raised non-esterified fatty acid levels decreased significantly after aerosol and placebo but not after intravenous salbutamol.