Metabolic effects of salbutamol: Comparison of aerosol and intravenous administration

Abstract

The effects of intravenous salbutamol (4 μg/kg) were compared with those of aerosol salbutamol (200 μg) 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. © 1977, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.