SummaryTwo groups of eight asthmatic children carried out serial treadmill exercise tests at 2‐hourly intervals, after double‐blind premedication with oxatomide (2 mg/kg by mouth), sodium cromoglycate powder (20 mg by inhalation) or matched placebo preparations. The drugs were studied in one group up to 6 hr and in the other group (omitting sodium cromoglycate) from 4 to 10hr after administration. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured before and after exercise to give an index of exercise‐induced asthma.Oxatomide had a slight but significant bronchodilator effect. After a lag period of up to 4 hours, oxatomide exerted a significant protective effect against exercise‐induced asthma which lasted until at least 8 hr. At 10 hr after ingestion, the effect had gone. A mean maximum diminution of exercise‐induced asthma of 49 was found, in comparison with placebo.Oral oxatomide after a lag period, exerts a significant protective effect against exercise‐induced asthma. The relevance of these observations for the clinical management of asthma remains to be
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