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Published in: Clinical Drug Investigation 4/2001

01-04-2001 | Clinical Use

Formoterol Monotherapy Compared with Combined Ipratropium Bromide plus Fenoterol in the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Authors: Pd Dr Martin Konermann, Rainer Suchantke, Jürgen Mogck, Jens Brauburger, Matthias Bräutigam

Published in: Clinical Drug Investigation | Issue 4/2001

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Abstract

Objectives

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of formoterol (12 or 24μg twice daily) alone with combined ipratropium bromide and fenoterol in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design and Setting

Randomised, parallel-group, open-label study in 10 German centres.

Patients

101 patients with COPD.

Interventions

The patients were randomised to receive either formoterol 12μg twice daily or a combination of ipratropium bromide 20μg plus fenoterol 50μg three times daily for 4 weeks. Dosages could be doubled if required.

Results

Morning pre-dose airway resistance (Reff) decreased significantly from 0.87 to 0.66 kPa·L−1·s with formoterol and from 0.81 to 0.66 kPa·L−1·s with combined ipratropium bromide and fenoterol (p = ns). The treatment groups were similar with respect to other lung function parameters, daily clinical symptom scores and salbutamol rescue medication. Adverse events occurred in 7/52 (13.5%) of the formoterol and 11/49 (22.4%) of the combination therapy group, and were the reason for study discontinuation in one (1.9%) versus seven (14.3%) patients. The overall discontinuation rate was 5.8% (3/52) with formoterol and 20.4% (10/49) with ipratropium bromide/fenoterol (p = 0.038).

Conclusions

The efficacy of formoterol monotherapy was comparable with that of combined ipratropium bromide and fenoterol in the treatment of COPD. Formoterol had a better adverse event profile and a lower rate of discontinuations resulting from adverse events.
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Metadata
Title
Formoterol Monotherapy Compared with Combined Ipratropium Bromide plus Fenoterol in the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors
Pd Dr Martin Konermann
Rainer Suchantke
Jürgen Mogck
Jens Brauburger
Matthias Bräutigam
Publication date
01-04-2001
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Clinical Drug Investigation / Issue 4/2001
Print ISSN: 1173-2563
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1918
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-200121040-00001

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