Figure 1.

The bronchodilator effect of formoterol occurs rapidly. A single inhalation of medication was administered to 24 patients with stable COPD in a randomized, three-way, crossover study. Reprinted from Respiratory Medicine, Vol 95 (10), Benhamou et al, Rapid onset of bronchodilation in COPD: a placebo-controlled study comparing formoterol (Foradil Aerolizer) with salbutamol (Ventodisk), pages 817–821, Copyright 2001, with permission from Elsevier.⁸

Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.