---
title: Beta Blocker Therapy in Mild to Moderate Asthmatics
nct_id: NCT01544634
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: PHASE2
sponsor: University of Dundee
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Asthma
countries: United Kingdom
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01544634.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01544634"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2018-03-30
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:23:07.213Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Beta Blocker Therapy in Mild to Moderate Asthmatics

**Official Title:** Evaluation of Any Steroid Sparing Effect of Beta Blocker Therapy on Airway Hyper-responsiveness in Stable, Mild to Moderate Asthmatics

**NCT ID:** [NCT01544634](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01544634)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** PHASE2
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 16
- **Lead Sponsor:** University of Dundee
- **Collaborators:** Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government
- **Conditions:** Asthma
- **Start Date:** 2012-04-04
- **Completion Date:** 2013-05-25
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2018-03-30

## Brief Summary

Current asthma medicines include inhalers. A common type of inhaler is called a 'beta-agonist' (e.g. salbutamol). They improve asthma symptoms by stimulating areas in the airway causing it to widen. Although these drugs are useful short term, long term use can make asthma worse in some people.

'Beta-blockers' are the complete opposite type of medication. Just now they are avoided in patients with asthma. Beta-blockers cause problems in asthmatics in the short term, including severe asthma attacks.

The other mainstay of inhaler treatment for asthma is inhaled steroid or 'preventer' medication. These work by dampening down the inflammation in the lungs that occurs in asthma.

New research has suggested that longer term use of beta-blockers can also reduce airway inflammation which may improve asthma control. This research was done in asthmatic patients who didn't need inhaled steroids to control their asthma. At the moment the investigators are studying to see if there is a benefit of beta-blocker use for asthma over and above asthmatics own usual doses of inhaled steroids.

In this study, the investigators will be trying to find out if adding a beta blocker to a smaller dose of steroid inhaler has the same effect on asthma control as just using a higher dose of steroid inhaler by itself.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 65 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* Stable mild to moderate asthma
* Histamine PC20 \</= 8mg/ml
* Receiving inhaled corticosteroid 0-1000ug daily (BDP equivalent dose)
* FEV1 \> 60% predicted
* Diurnal variability \< 30%
* Reliever use \</= 8puffs/day
* ECG demonstrating sinus rhythm

Exclusion Criteria:

* Uncontrolled symptoms of asthma
* Systolic BP\<110mmHg
* Heart rate\<60bpm
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Heart block
* Heart rate limiting medications currently prescribed
* Asthma exacerbation within 6 months of study commencement
```

## Arms

- **Propranolol + Low dose Qvar** (EXPERIMENTAL)
- **Placebo + high dose Qvar** (ACTIVE_COMPARATOR)

## Interventions

- **Propranolol** (DRUG) — Propranolol: 10mg bd for 1 week, 20mg bd for 2 weeks, 80mg MR for 4 weeks.
- **Placebo** (DRUG) — Placebo tablets: 1 tab bd for 2 weeks, 1 tab od for 4 weeks
- **Qvar 50** (DRUG) — Qvar 50, 1 puff bd for 6 weeks
- **Qvar 100** (DRUG) — Qvar 100, 2 puffs bd for 6 weeks

## Primary Outcomes

- **Change in Histamine provocative concentration causing 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20)at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_ — Measurement of airway hyper-reactivity (a hallmark of asthma).

## Secondary Outcomes

- **Change in Impulse oscillometry parameters at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in Spirometry parameters at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in resting heart rate at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in resting blood pressure at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in exhaled tidal nitric oxide levels at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (OUCC) at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_
- **Change in symptom scores (Asthma control questionnaire and Asthma quality of life questionnaire) at 6 weeks** _(time frame: Change from baseline to 6 weeks)_

## Locations (1)

- Asthma and Allergy Research Group, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.secondary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.collaborators` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.asthma and allergy research group, university of dundee|dundee|scotland|united kingdom` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01544634.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01544634*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*
