Variation of Drug Action on Airway Obstruction in Man

Rapid and sustained relief of airway obstruction is a therapeutic aim which is still only rarely achieved in chronic bronchitis or asthma. Although the topical administration of adrenergic smooth muscle relaxants usually affords a rapid symptomatic improvement in these patients, the duration of relief is limited, and the efficacy of this treatment diminishes as breathlessness increases. There is clearly a need for more effective and longer lasting drugs. This communication is primarily concerned with the variations that were observed in the response to aerosols of isoprenaline sulphate and atropine methonitrate after their administration to patients at different phases of airway obstruction. The protective action of some drugs against artificially induced airway obstruction was also investigated.