Improvement in outcome | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duration of action (hours) 1 | Lung function | Breathlessness | Exercise endurance* | Quality of life | Exacerbations | |
Salbutamol (albuterol) | 4-6 | ✓1,25 | ✓1,25 | ✓1,25 | NA | NA |
Salmeterol | ≥12 | ✓✓1,25-27 | ✓25-27 | ✓1,25 | ✓(✓‡)1,25-28 | ✓✓1,25,26,28 |
Formoterol | ≥12 | ✓✓1,25,29 | ✓✓25,29 | ✓1,25 | ✓✓1,25,29 | ✓†1,25,29-31 |