Abstract: The chronic use of p-adrenergic inverse agonists such as nadolol, carvedilol, and ICI-118,551 provides an improved method for the treatment of mucus hypersecretion in subjects with such mucus hypersecretion. One aspect of a method according to the present invention is a method of preventing or controlling mucus hypersecretion in the respiratory tract comprising administering a therapeutically effective quantity of a p-adrenergic inverse agonist to a subject with mucus hypersecretion or at risk of mucus hypersecretion. The invention further encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising the p-adrenergic inverse agonist and the additional compound.

Abstract: The use of ?-adrenergic inverse agonists provides a new and highly efficient way of treating a number of pulmonary airway diseases, including asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. In general, such a method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a ?-adrenergic inverse agonist to the subject to treat the pulmonary airway disease. Particularly preferred inverse agonists include nadolol and carvedilol.