ABSTRACT
Adverse effects of drugs are often classified as type A (pharmacologically predictable) and type B (idiosyncratic). The majority of unwanted actions of beta2 agonists belong to the former category and result from stimulation of beta receptors in organs and tissues other than the bronchi. Physiologists have appreciated that the catecholamine response to such stimuli as fear, stress, and exercise produce many different effects in the body. When beta2 agonists are administered for the purpose of bronchodilatation (and increased mucociliary transport, reduced bronchial venous congestion, and inhibition of chemical mediator release), their other sympathomimetic actions could then be described as “unwanted”. Beta2 agonists are established treatment for asthma, both acutely and in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids for long-term management. Many of the acute effects of these drugs are relevant to asthma morbidity and mortality.
