Inhalation of racemic epinephrine in children with asthma. Dose-response relation and comparison with salbutamol

Abstract

In this study the effects of nebulized racemic epinephrine (Micronephrine) were investigated in children with asthma. The drug was inhaled by a compressor nebulizer with a plastic mask. In the first part of the study it is shown that nebulized Micronephrine has a dose-dependent bronchodilatory effect. In the second part the effect is compared with that of nebulized salbutamol in 10 children (7-16 years of age) with bronchial asthma. The highest dose used in the dose-response trials (=0.9 mg Micronephrine/kg body-weight) was compared with 0.15 mg salbutamol/kg body-weight, which is the dose commonly used in Sweden. There was no significant difference between the drugs as regards increase of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec or duration of the increase. There was a small but significant increase in systolic blood pressure, measured 5 min after the inhalation of Micronephrine but no significant change in diastolic pressure or heart rate. Four children complained of temporary sore throat after the inhalation.