Efficacy and safety of formoterol for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Formoterol is a selective tong-acting beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist (LABA) that provides significant and sustained bronchoditatory effect for up to 12 h following a single dose. The onset of effect is significantly faster with formoterol compared with an alternative LABA, salmeterol, although both have a similar duration of action. The overall efficacy of formoterol in improving lung function and controlling symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is comparable to that of salmeterol and potentially superior to that of ipratropium or theophylline. Formoterol provides additional benefit when administered in combination with other bronchoditators or inhaled corticosteroids. In clinical studies, formoterol was well tolerated and had an adverse-event profile similar to that of other beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists. Formoterol is a rapidly acting, well-tolerated, effective beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist that can be regularly used as a long-acting bronchodilator for patients with moderate to severe COPD, as per recommendations, of the current treatment guidelines. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.