TY - JOUR T1 - Concomitant use of β-blockers and β<sub>2</sub>-agonists JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 905 LP - 906 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00153707 VL - 31 IS - 4 AU - Y. Ling AU - W. Saleem AU - C. D. Shee Y1 - 2008/04/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/4/905.abstract N2 - To the Editors: Historically, the use of β-adrenergic blockers in patients with airways disease has been discouraged. However, recent meta-analyses suggest that cardioselective β-blockers are safe in people with mild-to-moderate airways disease 1, 2. We have identified patients with chest disease on β-agonist bronchodilators, who were simultaneously taking β-blocker drugs. We have also looked at the reasons for co-prescription of these “competing” drugs and whether cardioselective β-blockers were being used. Over 2 yrs (2005–2006) in a district general hospital, C.D. Shee prospectively recorded the names of patients he saw who were concomitantly taking β-blockers and β2-agonists. Patients were encountered in outpatient clinics, as hospital in-patients and as referrals (consults). The data were analysed retrospectively. A total of 34 … ER -