The pharmacological rationale for combining muscarinic receptor antagonists and beta-adrenoceptor agonists in the treatment of airway and bladder disease

Highlights • Muscarinic receptors increase smooth muscle tone in airways and urinary bladder. • β-Adrenoceptors relax smooth muscle tone and oppose muscarinic contraction. • Opposition involves transmitter release, signal transduction and receptor expression. • This supports the combined use of muscarinic antagonists and β-adrenoceptor agonists.