Skip to main content
Log in

The effect of salbutamol on performance in endurance cyclists

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of salbutamol (S) on cycling performance was examined in 15 highly trained non-asthmatic male cyclists. A double-blind, randomized cross-over design was used with S or placebo (P) administered using a metered-dose inhaler and a spacer device 20 min before each testing session. The S dose was 400 μg (four puffs), which is twice the normal therapeutic level. Subjects were habituated to all the laboratory procedures in the week prior to actual data collection. The subjects performed four tests under S and P conditions on separate days over 2 weeks. These included measurement of maximal O2 uptake\((\dot VO_{2max} )\) (cycle ergometry) with assessment of pulmonary function before and after, a submaximal (90% of ventilatory threshold) square-wave work transition from a base of unloaded cycling, a 60-s modified Wingate test, and a simulated 20 km time trial. No significant differences were observed in any of the dependent variables related to aerobic endurance or cycling performance between the S and P conditions. These results support other findings that an acute dose (400 μg) of S has no performance-enhancing properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bedi JF, Gong H Jr, Horvath SM (1988) Enhancement of performance with inhaled albuterol. Can J Sports Sci 13:144–148

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cochrane GM, Prieto F, Clarke TGH (1977) Intrasubject variability of maximal expiratory flow volume curves. Thorax 32:171–176

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corea L, Bentivoglio M, Verdecchia P, Motolese M, Sorbini CA (1984) Noninvasive assessment of chronotropic and inotropic response to preferential beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptor stimulation. Clin Pharmacol Ther 35:776–778

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler MB, Timmis AD, Crick JP, Vincent R, Chamberlain DA (1982) Comparison of haemodynamic responses to dobutamine and salbutamol in cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction. Br Med J 284:73–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hargreave FE, Ryan G, Thomson NC, O'Byrne PM, Latimer K, Juniper EF, Dolovich J (1981) Bronchial responsiveness to histamine or methacholine in asthma: measurement and clinical significance. J Allergy Clin Immunol 68:347–355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lalos O, Joelsson I (1981) Effect of salbutamol on the nonpregnant human uterus in vivo. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 60:349–352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie DC, Rhodes EC, Stirling DR, Wiley JP, Dunwoody DW, Filsinger IB, Jang F, Stevens A (1983) Salbutamol and treadmill performance in non-atopic athletes. Med Sci Sports Exercise 15:520–522

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meeuwisse WH, McKenzie DC, Hopkins SR, Road JD (1992) The effect of salbutamol on performance in elite non-asthmatic athletes. Med Sci Sports Exercise 24:1161–1166

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mettauer B, Rouleau JL, Burgess JH (1985) Detrimental arrhythmogenic and sustained beneficial haemodynamic effects of oral salbutamol in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Am Heart J 104:1011–1015

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton AR, Fitch KD (1992) Asthmatic drugs and competitive sport. Sports Med 14:228–224

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morton AR, Papalia SM, Fitch KD (1991) Effects of salbutamol on physical performance and lung function of high performance non-asthmatic athletes. Med Sci Sports Exercise [Suppl] 23:525

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton AR, Papalia SM, Fitch KD (1993) Changes in anaerobic power and strength performance after inhalation of Salbutamol in nonasthmatic athletes. Clin J Sports Med 3:14–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Price AH, Clissold SP (1989) Salbutamol in the 1980's; a reappraisal of its clinical efficacy. Drugs 38:77–122

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rolf-Smith S, Kendall MJ (1984) Metabolic responses to beta2 stimulants. J Roy Coll Physicians [Lond] 18:190–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolf-Smith S, Ryder C, Kendall MJ, Holder R (1984) Cardiovascular and biochemical responses to nebulised salbutamol in normal subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 18:641–644

    Google Scholar 

  • Signorile J, Kaplan T, Applegate B, Perry A (1991) Effects of acute inhalation of the bronchodilator albuterol on power output in a non-asthmatic population. Med Sci Sports Exercise [Suppl] 23:S77

    Google Scholar 

  • Voy RO (1984) The U.S. Olympic Committee experience with exercise-induced bronchopasm. Med Sci Sports Exercise 18:328–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagen J, Fredholm B, Lunell NO, Persson B (1982) Metabolic and circulatory effects of intravenous and oral salbutamol in late pregnancy in diabetic and non-diabetic women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 108:41–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman K, Beaver WL, Whipp BJ (1990) Gas exchange theory and the lactic acidosis (anaerobic) threshold. Circulation 81 [Suppl 11]:14–30

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Norris, S.R., Petersen, S.R. & Jones, R.L. The effect of salbutamol on performance in endurance cyclists. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 73, 364–368 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02425500

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02425500

Key words

Navigation