Is Aminophylline a Patho-Selective Drug for Bronchospasm ?

Summary

In vivo, aminophylline cannot alter the normal, cybernticly controlled, bronchial tone and therefore appears as inactive in normal subjects. It becomes active however in case of bronchospasm, where the regulatory possibilities of the control system are overrun.

Exogenous beta-agonists bypass the control system and exert their uncontrolled bronchodilating and other effects in both normal and bronchospastic subjects.

Combined administration of aminophylline and beta agonists has the same effects as beta-agonists alone, but in an even stronger way.