Levalbuterol is as effective as racemic albuterol in lowering serum potassium.
Publication/Presentation Date
7-1-2003
Abstract
Albuterol is an effective treatment for hyperkalemia through beta-adrenergic induction of potassium (K+) uptake. Levalbuterol, the R-enantiomer of racemic albuterol, is used for the treatment of asthma and 0.63 mg of levalbuterol has the same therapeutic efficacy as 2.5 mg of albuterol but with a decreased adverse effects profile. We hypothesized that levalbuterol can reduce serum K+ levels similarly to albuterol when used in equipotent doses. In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled prospective study, we compared the K+-lowering effects of nebulized saline and equipotent bronchodilatory doses of albuterol (10 mg) and levalbuterol (2.5 mg) in healthy adult volunteers. Nine subjects entered each of the three study groups. Serum K+ was measured at baseline, at 30 min (immediately after treatment), at 60 min, and at 90 min. All adverse effects were recorded. The three groups had similar baseline K+ values. Immediately after nebulization, only levalbuterol showed a significant decrease in potassium level (p = 0.024). At 30 and 60 min after treatment, both albuterol and levalbuterol groups had significantly lower K+ values compared to placebo. No significant difference occurred between the albuterol and levalbuterol groups. Levalbuterol caused fewer reported adverse effects compared to albuterol.
Volume
25
Issue
1
First Page
13
Last Page
16
ISSN
0736-4679
Published In/Presented At
Pancu, D., LaFlamme, M., Evans, E., & Reed, J. (2003). Levalbuterol is as effective as racemic albuterol in lowering serum potassium. The Journal of emergency medicine, 25(1), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0736-4679(03)00133-1
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
12865102
Department(s)
Department of Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article