form in severe cases of asthma, but it is more commonly used to suppress premature labor because it also relaxes uterine muscle, thereby inhibiting contractions. Risks On 18 November 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted healthcare professionals and patients that several long-acting bronchodilator medicines have been associated with possible increased risk of worsening wheezing in some people, and requested that manufacturers update warnings in their existing product labeling. A 2006 meta-analysis found that "regularly inhaled β agonists (orciprenaline/metaproterenol [Alupent], formoterol [Foradil], fluticasone+salmeterol [Serevent, Advair], and salbutamol/albuterol [Proventil, Ventolin, Volmax, and others]) increased the risk of respiratory death more than two-fold, compared with a placebo," while used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On 11 December 2008, a panel of experts convened by the FDA voted to ban drugs Serevent and Foradil from use in the treatment of asthma. When these two drugs are used without steroids, they increase the risks of more severe attacks. They said that two other, much more popular, asthma drugs containing long-acting β agonists—Advair and Symbicort—should continue to be used. Types They can be divided into short-acting, long-acting, and ultra-long-acting beta adrenoreceptor agonists: Generic name—Trade name Short-acting β2 agonists (SABAs) bitolterol—Tornalate fenoterol—Berotec isoprenaline (INN) or isoproterenol (USAN)—Isuprel levosalbutamol (INN) or levalbuterol (USAN)—Xopenex orciprenaline (INN) or metaproterenol (USAN)—Alupent pirbuterol—Maxair procaterol ritodrine—Yutopar salbutamol (INN) or albuterol (USAN)—Ventolin terbutaline—Bricanyl Long-acting β2 agonists (LABAs) arformoterol—Brovana (some consider it to be an ultra-LABA) bambuterol—Bambec, Oxeol clenbuterol—Dilaterol, Spiropent formoterol—Foradil, Oxis, Perforomist salmeterol—Serevent Ultra-long-acting β2 agonists abediterol carmoterol indacaterol—Arcapta Neohaler (U.S.), Onbrez Breezhaler (EU, RU) olodaterol—Striverdi Respimat vilanterol with umeclidinium bromide—Anoro Ellipta with fluticasone furoate—Breo Ellipta (U.S.), Relvar Ellipta (EU, RU) with fluticasone furoate and umeclidinium bromide—Trelegy Ellipta Unknown duration of action isoxsuprine mabuterol zilpaterol—Zilmax Society and culture β2 agonists are used by athletes and bodybuilders as anabolic performance-enhancing drugs and their use has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency except for certain drugs that people with asthma may use; they are also used illegally to try to promote the growth of livestock. A 2011 meta-analysis found no evidence that inhaled β₂-agonists improve performance in healthy athletes and found that the evidence was too weak to assess whether systemic administration of β₂-agonists improved performance in healthy people. See also Discovery and development of β2 agonists β3-adrenergic agonist References External links World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substances