The use of .beta.-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 involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of a .beta.-adrenergic inverse agonist to the subject to treat the pulmonary airway disease. Particularly preferred inverse agonists include nadolol and carvedilol. In addition, methods are described for long-tern administration of such inverse agonists and for determining the suitability of patients for long-term inverse agonist therapy.