[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Beta-2 adrenergic agonists](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/beta-2-adrenergic-agonists/) › Olodaterol

# Olodaterol

## Beta-2 adrenergic agonists?

Beta-2 adrenergic agonists

A once-daily inhaled long-acting beta-2 agonist for COPD maintenance, alone or with tiotropium; not for sudden attacks.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Beta-2 adrenergic agonists](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/beta-2-adrenergic-agonists/)

**Target**
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor

**Used for**
Maintenance bronchodilator treatment

**Key effects**
Runny nose · Joint pain · Nervousness

**Monitor**
Symptoms · Heart rate and rhythm in heart disease

**ATC**
R03AC19

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

◎**Beta-2 adrenergic receptor**Olodaterol

ⓘ The figure shows olodaterol bound to the human beta-2 adrenergic receptor (cryo-EM of an engineered receptor).

**Target in 3D:** Beta-2 adrenergic receptor. PDB structure 8JJL (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8JJL) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

Olodaterol is a very long-acting beta-2 agonist. It activates beta-2 receptors on airway smooth muscle, which raises cyclic AMP through Gs and adenylyl cyclase and relaxes the muscle. Its effect lasts long enough for once-daily use. It is also combined with tiotropium, a muscarinic antagonist, for additive bronchodilation in COPD.

- Olodaterol activates beta-2 receptors on airway muscle
- Gs and adenylyl cyclase raise cyclic AMP
- Airway smooth muscle relaxes
- Bronchodilation lasts about a day

## Indications

- Maintenance bronchodilator treatment of COPD (alone or with tiotropium) [Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Runny nose, cough and fever
- Joint pain
- Nervousness, tremor and muscle cramps
- Trouble sleeping and constipation

### Serious (rare, important)

- Paradoxical bronchospasm right after inhalation
- Chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- Hypokalaemia

## Contraindications

- Asthma without an inhaled corticosteroid (LABA monotherapy)
- Not for sudden attacks or rapidly worsening COPD
- Not combined with another long-acting beta-2 agonist

## Key interactions

**Other long-acting beta-2 agonists (salmeterol, formoterol)**
Duplicate therapy and more adverse effects; only one is kept

**Tiotropium**
Additive bronchodilation; available as a fixed combination

## What is monitored

- Symptoms, rescue inhaler use and spirometry
- Heart rate and rhythm in heart disease
- Potassium and glucose when risk is high

## Administration and safety

- Inhaled with its own soft-mist inhaler; the cartridge fits only that device
- The inhaler is primed before first use and after a period without use
- Not sprayed into the eyes; the mouthpiece is cleaned regularly

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Data in pregnancy are limited; use is weighed with the treating doctor.

## Nursing care

- Teach the inhaler technique and priming, and check it at visits
- Make sure a short-acting reliever is available for sudden symptoms
- Teach to report wheeze right after an inhalation
- Ask about heart disease, seizures, diabetes and thyroid disease

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Inhaled as a soft mist from a dedicated inhaler

**Onset and duration**
Long-acting: used once daily for maintenance, not for relief

## Memory aid

OLOdaterol: ONCE a day, ONLY for COPD maintenance, OFTEN with tiotropium.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Why is olodaterol not used for a sudden COPD attack?

It is a long-acting maintenance bronchodilator; attacks are treated with a short-acting reliever such as salbutamol.

## With which muscarinic antagonist is olodaterol combined?

Tiotropium.

## Why is olodaterol not used alone in asthma?

Long-acting beta-2 agonists without an inhaled corticosteroid are unsafe in asthma.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/olodaterol/)

[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 4

- [Tiotropium bromide](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/tiotropium-bromide/)
- [Salmeterol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/salmeterol/)
- [Formoterol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/formoterol/)
- [Salbutamol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/salbutamol/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/)

[← Back to the class: Beta-2 adrenergic agonists](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/beta-2-adrenergic-agonists/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Olodaterol Oral Inhalation: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a615019.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [RCSB PDB - 8JJL: cryo-EM structure of the beta2-AR-mBRIL/1b3 Fab/Glue complex with a full agonist](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/8JJL) (RCSB Protein Data Bank, 2023); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=R03AC19) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/olodaterol/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/olodaterol/