Examples

Prescription beta2-agonists

Prescription long-acting beta2-agonist and corticosteroid combination

Prescription short-acting beta2-agonist and anticholinergic combination

Beta2-agonists are available in metered-dose inhaler (MDI), nebulizer, pill, injected, and syrup forms. One medication may be available in multiple forms. Your health professional will help you decide which type is best for you.

Beta2-agonists come in two forms: short-acting and long-acting. The short-acting form relieves symptoms and the long-acting form helps prevent breathing problems. Short-acting beta2-agonists are used for treating stable COPD in a person whose symptoms come and go (intermittent symptoms). Long-acting beta2-agonists are effective and convenient for preventing and treating COPD in a person whose symptoms do not go away (persistent symptoms).

How It Works

Beta2-agonists are bronchodilators: They relax and enlarge (dilate) the airways in the lungs, making breathing easier.

Why It Is Used

Beta2-agonists are considered first-line therapy for the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with symptoms that come and go (intermittent symptoms). They are used for both short- and long-term relief of symptoms.

Beta2-agonists also may be used before exercise to reduce breathing difficulties.

Salmeterol, formoterol, or arformoterol may be taken to prevent shortness of breath or coughing that may keep you from exercising.

How Well It Works

Studies indicate that inhaled beta2-agonists are effective in treating symptoms of COPD and improving lung function as measured by tests (spirometry). There is no evidence of their effect on the progression of the disease.¹

Compared to placebo:

• Inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists are effective in treating rapidly worsening symptoms (COPD exacerbation) and improving lung function and shortness of breath in stable COPD.^{2, 1}
• Inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists improve lung function and improve symptoms such as shortness of breath.¹

Results vary from one individual to the next. For some people with COPD, beta2-agonist medications make breathing much easier. For others, they do not help.

Combining medications may help your lung function. Using a beta2-agonist:

• With an anticholinergic may help your lung function more than using either medication alone.¹
• With an inhaled corticosteroid may result in improved shortness of breath and less use of relief medication compared to placebo or either medication used alone.^{3, 4} The combination also resulted in fewer COPD exacerbations compared with placebo.³

Combining medications usually increases your cost but may also reduce the risk of side effects compared to increasing the dose of one medication.⁵

Side Effects

Side effects are much more likely to occur when taking this medication as a pill or injection than when using the inhaled form. Side effects can include:

• Anxiety.
• Muscle tremors.
• Nervousness.
• Increased or irregular heartbeat (palpitations).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that formoterol, arformoterol, and salmeterol may make breathing more difficult. If your wheezing gets worse after taking these medicines, call your health professional right away.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

While short-acting beta2-agonists may be the first choice for treating symptoms of mild COPD that come and go (intermittent symptoms), anticholinergics generally are regarded as the first-line treatment for persistent symptoms in most cases of COPD.

Inhalation is the preferred method of taking beta2-agonists. This method reduces the chance of side effects and increases the effectiveness of the medication. Pills and injections are reserved for those who cannot use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or nebulizer.

Nebulizers normally are no better at delivering beta2-agonists deep into the lungs than a properly used metered-dose inhaler. Occasionally your health professional may prescribe a nebulizer. Although a nebulizer can deliver a very large dose of medication, it also may increase side effects of the medication.

Most health professionals recommend that everyone using an inhaler also use a spacer. Use of a spacer is especially important when using an inhaler containing a steroid medication. However, you should not use a dry powder inhaler (DPI) with a spacer.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Citations

1. Kerstjens H, et al. (2005). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clinical Evidence (13): 1923-1947.

2. Stoller JK (2002). Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(13): 987–994.

3. Calverley P, et al. (2003). Combined salmeterol and fluticasone in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 361: 449–456.

4. Hanania NA, et al. (2003). The efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate (250 micrograms)/salmeterol (50 micrograms) combined in the Diskus Inhaler for the treatment of COPD. Chest, 124: 834–843.

5. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) (2005). Executive summary (updated 2005). In Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Available online: http://www.goldcopd.com/GuidelinesResources.asp?I1=2&I2=0.