Abstract
The effect of almitrine bismesylate on hypoxemia was investigated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 39 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease living at moderate altitude (1,500-6,597 feet) above sea level. Arterial partial oxygen pressure (PO2) increased by 5.3 mmHg (P < 0.05) in patients receiving 50 mg twice daily and by 7.1 mmHg (P < 0.05) in patients receiving 100 mg twice daily. Arterial partial carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2) decreased (P < 0.05) in both dose groups and minute ventilation increased in the 100-mg twice-daily group (P < 0.05). However, the change in arterial PCO2 was small compared with the increase in arterial PO2. Almitrine bismesylate was well tolerated by patients in this study with unexplained worsening of dyspnea occurring in only one patient. Therefore, almitrine bismesylate appears to be a useful agent for relieving hypoxemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease living at moderate altitude.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 327-334 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Current Therapeutic Research - Clinical and Experimental |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - 1988 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology (medical)