Change in Oxygen Consumption Following Inhalation of Albuterol in Comparison with Levalbuterol in Healthy Adult Volunteers

• Published in: Lung 2017-04, Vol.195 (2), p.233-239
• Main Authors: Virk, Manpreet K., Hotz, Justin, Khemani, Robinder G., Newth, Christopher J. L., Ross, Patrick A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Albuterol - administration & dosage; Albuterol - pharmacology; Asthma; Bronchodilator Agents - administration & dosage; Bronchodilator Agents - pharmacology; Drug therapy; Healthy Volunteers; Heart rate; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Levalbuterol - administration & dosage; Levalbuterol - pharmacology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Prospective Studies; Respiratory therapy; Single-Blind Method; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0341-2040; 1432-1750
• DOI: 10.1007/s00408-017-9982-8

Background Albuterol is the most commonly used β agonist to treat reversible lower airway obstruction. Albuterol contains a racemic mixture of two enantiomers. Levalbuterol contains the single R form enantiomer. Levalbuterol is frequently prescribed to limit cardiovascular toxicity. Objective We examined changes in oxygen consumption (V’O 2 ) and heart rate (HR) following administration of albuterol and levalbuterol. Methods This is a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled study of healthy adult volunteers. Subjects separately received albuterol (5 mg) and levalbuterol (2.5 mg) aerosolized over 15 min. V’O 2 and vital signs were measured before the medications and 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 min after. Results We enrolled 24 volunteers with a median age of 32 years. Compared to baseline, there was a significant maximum increase in V’O 2 following administration of both albuterol (median 17% (1, 3 IQR 9, 43%) p