ABSTRACT
Abstracts: Background: This study compared the efficacy of levosalbutamol alone and ipratropium bromide alone with levosalbutamol and ipratropium bromide combined, through inhalational route in stable patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study was carried out in 102 patients of COPD. Levosalbutamol inhalation was administered to 33 patients and ipratropium bromide inhalation was given to 31 patients.38 patients were treated with combination of levosalbutamol and ipratropium bromide inhalation. Pulmonary functions were noted before and after 15, 30, 60,120,180 and 240 minutes of inhalation of these drugs. Bronchodilation was significantly more in patients treated with combination therapy as compared to patients treated with single drug separately. The effect was more sustained in combination therapy as it started declining after 120 minutes with levosalbutamol, after 180 minutes in ipratropium bromide and after 240 minutes with combination therapy. So it was concluded that combination therapy with levosalbutamol and ipratropium bromide is better in management of COPD patients than using either of agents alone.