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Long-acting beta-agonists in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: current and future agents

β2-agonists are widely used in the management of COPD, either alone or in combination with other bronchodilators, corticosteroids, or both. Short-acting β2-agonists (SABAs) were the first agents of the class to become available for the treatment of COPD. LABAs with a 12-hour duration of action were subsequently introduced in the late 1990s, following positive experience in asthma, providing improvements in bronchodilator efficacy and patient outcomes compared with SABAs which have a duration of action of only 4-6 hours.

For patients with Stage II (moderate) or more severe COPD, regular treatment with a twice-daily LABA such as formoterol or salmeterol, or a long-acting muscarinic…

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Articles of Interest

Long-acting beta2-agonists for people with COPD

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Adrenergic Bronchodilators: Overview and Practice Questions

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Previously, descriptions of pharmacological effects associated with "non-selective" β-adrenergic receptor agonists used to manage pulmonary diseases such as asthma or COPD necessarily include unwanted side effects often due to β1 adrenergic receptor activation. Specifically, myocardial effects are particularly emphasized.

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StatPearls

Beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonists are a class of medications used in the frontline management and treatment of bronchial asthma and COPD.