Back to Journals » International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease » Volume 3 » Issue 4

Long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: efficacy and safety

Authors Rossi A, Khirani S, Cazzola M

Published 5 December 2008 Volume 2008:3(4) Pages 521—529

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S1353



Andrea Rossi1, Sonia Khirani1, Mario Cazzola2

1Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Hospital of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy; 2Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy

Abstract: COPD is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction which does not fully reverse to inhaled or oral pharmacotherapy. The management of patients with COPD has taken a totally new direction over the past 20 years, thank to the use of novel therapies aimed to improve and modify the natural history of COPD. Long-acting bronchodilators, including long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs), were introduced several years ago in order to enhance improvements in lung function, health status related quality of life, and reduce the rate of exacerbations. These effects can be boosted by the combination of LABAs with long-acting anticholinergic, and/or with inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled LABAs are commonly well tolerated although adverse effects such as tremor and palpitations are occasionally troublesome.

Keywords: LABA, COPD, efficacy, safety

Creative Commons License © 2008 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.