THE EFFECT OF SALBUTAMOL ON MOOD IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

The beta-2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol, widely used in the treatment of asthma, is thought to have antidepressant activity and possibly an abuse liability. In order to examine the mood-altering potential of this drug, a placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial was conducted in 21 psychiatrically normal subjects. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to assess mood at baseline, after six weeks of placebo and salbutamol treatment (in either order), and after a four-week washout period in between treatments. The results showed little difference between treatments, apart from a tendency for salbutamol to worsen subjective mood relative to placebo during the first treatment phase only. In conclusion, the blinded, placebo-controlled administration of salbutamol gives no evidence of mood-elevating or addictive properties in psychiatrically normal individuals.