CLINICAL TRIAL article
Front. Cardiovasc. Med.
Sec. Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery
This article is part of the Research TopicClinical Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine: 2025View all 3 articles
Assessing the Cardiovascular and Potassium Lowering Effects of Levalbuterol Compared to Albuterol; A Randomized Control Trial
Provisionally accepted
Mike Ghabally1
Baraa Shebli1
Muhammad Besher Shabouk1
Ahmad Yamen Arnaout1*
Mohamed Besher Zeina2Mahmoud Malhis1- 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
- 2University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
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Background Beta-agonists like Levalbuterol and Albuterol are used in the treatment of Hyperkalemia. However, few studies in the medical literature have directly compared the cardiac effects and potassium-lowering efficacy of levalbuterol and albuterol, yielding inconclusive results. Understanding the cardiovascular effects and potassium-lowering abilities of these medications in hyperkalemic patients is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and minimizing adverse events. Methods This randomized controlled trial conducted at Aleppo University Hospital in Syria aimed to compare the cardiovascular and potassium-lowering effects of Levalbuterol versus Albuterol in hyperkalemic patients. The study, carried out between October 2021 and February 2022, utilized a single-center single-blinded two-armed design with patients randomized using a computer-generated sequence and block randomization method. Results The results showed no significant difference in mean HR change between Levalbuterol and Albuterol groups at 30 minutes, nor in the change in potassium serum levels at 90 minutes. Both drugs exhibited similar patterns in HR changes over time and blood pressure variations at different points. Despite limitations in data collection for side effects, the reported symptoms in both groups were consistent with known side effects of beta-agonists, with tremors and nervousness being the most commonly reported. Conclusion Our study provides the first direct insights into the effects of Levalbuterol and Albuterol on heart rate, potassium levels, and blood pressure in patients with heart failure. Both medications showed similar patterns in heart rate changes, potassium levels, and blood pressure variations at different time points.
Keywords: Levalbuterol, Albuterol, Hyperkalemia, Cardiovascular side effects, Beta2-agonists
Received: 05 Sep 2024; Accepted: 11 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ghabally, Shebli, Shabouk, Arnaout, Zeina and Malhis. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Ahmad Yamen Arnaout, yamen.arnout@gmail.com
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