Etafedrine, a sympathomimetic agent that acts on the sympathetic receptors of the bronchial tree relaxing spasm in a manner similar to that of ephedrine, is a bronchodilator and a selective β2-adrenoreceptor agonist. Contraction of the guinea pig tracheal chain by acetylcholine or histamine was antagonized by etafedrine with a higher potency then ephedrine but with a lower potency than epinephrine (adrenaline). Etafedrine did not increase heart rate or force of contraction in guinea pig atria. Unlike ephedrine and tyramine, etafedrine did not induce the release of noradrenaline as was demonstrated in vitro in the perfused rabbit heart and instead acted as a selective β2 adrenoreceptor agonist. Etafedrine also belongs to the family of medications called decongestants. It works by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages, helping to relieve nasal stuffiness. Etafedrine has been used in pharmaceutical compositions, such as NETHAPRIN Expectorant, Nethaprin Dospan and Dalmacol, useful in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders including chronic bronchitis.

Clenbuterol is agonist of beta2 adrenergic receptor. In some countries it is used as bronchodilator for treatment of asthma, but is not approved in USA. The drug is abused by bodybuilders and athletes for its ability to increase lean muscle mass and to reduce body fat. In 1998 FDA approved the clenbuterol-based Ventipulmin Syrup as a prescription-only drug for treatment of airway obstruction in horses.

Ractopamine is a feed additive to promote leanness in animals raised for their meat. Pharmacologically, it is a TAAR1 agonist and β adrenoreceptor agonist that stimulates β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors. Ractopamine is known to increase the rate of weight gain, improve feed efficiency, and increase carcass leanness in finishing swine. Its use in finishing swine yields about three kilograms of additional lean pork and improves feed efficiency by 10%. Ractopamine is the active ingredient in products known as Paylean for swine and Optaflexx for cattle, developed by Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, for use in food animals for growth promotion. Ractopamine use has been banned in most countries, including the European Union, mainland China and Russia while 27 other countries, such as Japan, the United States, Canada, and South Korea, have deemed meat from livestock fed ractopamine safe for human consumption. Ractopamine is safe for finishing pigs heavier than 240 lb (110 kg) when administered in the diet at concentrations up to 10 ppm and fed for up to 35 days.

Zilpaterol is an agonist of β2-adrenergic receptor. Zilpaterol exerts bronchospasmolytic action. Zilmax® (4.8% Zilpaterol hydrochloride) is used to increase rate of bodyweight gain, improve feed efficiency, and increase carcass leanness in cattle fed in confinement for a period of 20-40 consecutive days at the end of the feeding period before slaughter.

Alprenolol is a beta adrenoreceptor blocking agent and 5HT1A antagonist, developed by AstraZeneca and now available as generic drug. It is used for treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris due to coronary atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction.

Bunitrolol is a beta-adrenergic antagonist that can be used for treatment of coronary heart disease. It improves cardiac performance after beta-blockade in patients with coronary artery disease. Bunitrolol was found to have a greater beta 1 than beta 2 adrenergic activity and a weak alpha 1 blocking action.

Bambuterol is an active precursor of the selective beta2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline. Bambuterol is the bis-N,N-dimethyl-carbamate of terbutaline. Bambuterol is a remarkably selective and potent inhibitor of cholinesterase. BAMBEC (Bambuterol hydrochloride) oral solution or tablets are indicated for the management of asthma, bronchospasm and/or reversible airways obstruction.

Procaterol is a beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist. It is a bronchodilator that may be administered orally or by aerosol inhalation for the treatment of dyspnea caused by bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary emphysema. The drug is not approved in the USA, but is available in Japan, Indonesia, and other countries worldwide.

Hexoprenaline is a selective beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist indicated for use in the treatment of bronchospasm associated with obstructive airways diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. In many countries the drug is used as tocolytic agent (under the trade name gynipral).

Etilefrine is a cardiac stimulant used as an antihypotensive. Intravenous infusion of this compound increases cardiac output, stroke volume, venous return and blood pressure in man and experimental animals, suggesting stimulation of both α and β adrenergic receptors. However, in vitro studies indicate that etilefrine has a much higher affinity for β1 (cardiac) than for β2 adrenoreceptors. Intravenous etilefrine increases the pulse rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, central venous pressure and mean arterial pressure of healthy individuals. Marked falls in pulse rate, cardiac output, stroke volume and peripheral bloodflow, accompanied by rises in mean arterial pressure, occur when etilefrine is infused after administration of intravenous propranolol 2,5 mg. These findings indicate that etilefrine has both β1 and α1 adrenergic effects in man. The French Health Products Agency concluded that etilefrine and heptaminol have an unfavourable harm-benefit balance, and also placed restrictions on the use of midodrine.