SummaryThe effectiveness of inhaled versus oral metaproterenol in preventing exercise‐induced asthma (EIA) was studied.Inhaled metaproterenol given 10 min before the exercise significantly reduced the degree of EIA in a group of twenty‐four patients, and in 75 of them completely prevented it. The mean percentage decrease in FEV1was 6‐5 with the inhaler and 30.1, with placebo. When inhaled 1 hr before the exercise, metaproterenol was still better than placebo but its effectiveness was considerably lower. Metaproterenol tablets had a slight protective effect given I hr before, and none when administered 2 hr before exercise.There was no correlation between the protective effect against EIA and the bronchodilating effect obtained before exercise. Metaproterenol administered by metered‐dose inhaler is a very effective prophylactic medication against clinically troublesome EIA, while metaproterenol tablets should not be recommended for this
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