Beta Blockers for the Treatment of Asthma

Summary

Current asthma medicines include inhalers. A common inhaler used in asthma is called a beta-agonist (for example salbutamol). They improve asthma symptoms by stimulating areas in the human airway resulting in widening of the human airway. Although these drugs are useful after the first dose, longterm use can cause worsening asthma symptoms. Beta-blockers are the complete opposite type of medication. Just now they are avoided in patients with asthma as after the first dose they can cause airway narrowing and cause an asthma attack. New research has suggested that long term use of beta-blockers can reduce airway inflammation which can improve asthma control and improve symptoms. This research was done in asthmatic patients who didn't need inhaled steroids to control their asthma. What the investigators want to do is see if the same benefit of beta-blocker use is asthma can be seen in people who take inhaled steroids.

Timeline

Start

2010-05

Primary completion

2012-03

Completion

2012-03

Publications

• Results Short PM, Williamson PA, Anderson WJ, Lipworth BJ. Randomized placebo-controlled trial to evaluate chronic dosing effects of propranolol in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Jun 15;187(12):1308-14. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201212-2206OC.
• Short PM, Anderson WJ, Manoharan A, Lipworth BJ. Usefulness of impulse oscillometry for the assessment of airway hyperresponsiveness in mild-to-moderate adult asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2015 Jul;115(1):17-20. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2015.04.022.

Drugs

Indications