Highlights for albuterol Show
Albuterol is a prescription drug. It’s available as an inhalation suspension, nebulizer solution, inhalation powder, immediate-release tablet, extended-release tablet, or oral syrup. Albuterol inhalation suspension is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drugs ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, and Proventil HFA. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. To help treat asthma symptoms, albuterol may be taken as part of a combination therapy with inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta agonists, and bronchodilators. Why it’s usedThis drug is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, which is tightening and swelling of the muscles around the airways. It’s used in people with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease). It’s also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. How it worksAlbuterol belongs to a class of drugs called beta2-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. They are often used to treat similar conditions. This drug helps to relax the airway muscles for up to 6–12 hours. This helps you breathe more easily. Albuterol inhalation suspension doesn’t cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects. More common side effectsSome of the more common side effects that can occur with albuterol include:
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history. Albuterol inhalation suspension can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with albuterol are listed below. Blood pressure drugsIn general, people with asthma shouldn’t use blood pressure medications called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers block the effects that albuterol has on your breathing. This can cause severe bronchospasms and more trouble breathing in people with asthma. Examples of beta-blockers include:
Using other blood pressure drugs such as diuretics (water pills) with albuterol can cause heart rhythm changes and potassium levels that drop lower than normal. If these medications are given together, your doctor should monitor your potassium levels. Examples of diuretics include:
DigoxinUse caution when taking digoxin and albuterol together. Albuterol can lower digoxin levels in your body. This means that digoxin may not work as well. You doctor may adjust your digoxin dose and monitor your digoxin blood levels during treatment. Depression medicationsUse extreme caution if you take albuterol with certain depression medications or take them within 2 weeks of each other. Taking these drugs together may significantly increase the heart effects of albuterol. Examples of depression medications include:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. This drug comes with several warnings. Allergy warningThis drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with heart disorders: Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition such as insufficiency, irregular heart rate, or high blood pressure. Albuterol may significantly change your blood pressure, heart rate, or pulse. This could make your heart condition worse. For people with diabetes: Albuterol can make your blood sugar management worse. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you. For people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): Albuterol may make your overactive thyroid worse. If you have this condition, talk with your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you. For people with seizures: This drug can make your seizures worse. Talk with your doctor to find out if this drug is safe for you. For people with low potassium levels: Albuterol can further lower your potassium levels. If you already have low potassium levels, this could cause negative heart effects. Warnings for other groupsFor pregnant women: Albuterol is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:
Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. For women who are breastfeeding: It isn’t known if albuterol passes into breast milk. If it does, it may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A normal adult dose may cause levels of the drug to be higher than normal. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dose or a different dosing schedule. For children: The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children under 4 years old. This drug shouldn’t be used in children younger than 4 years. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:
Forms and strengthsGeneric: Albuterol
Brand: ProAir HFA
Brand: Ventolin HFA
Brand: Proventil HFA
Dosage for bronchospasmAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 4–17 years)
Child dosage (ages 0–3 years) The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children younger than 4 years old. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A normal adult dose may cause levels of the drug to be higher than normal. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dose or a different schedule. Dosage to prevent exercise-induced asthmaAdult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
Child dosage (ages 4–17 years)
Child dosage (ages 0–3 years) The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children younger than 4 years old. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) Older adults may process drugs more slowly. A normal adult dose may cause levels of the drug to be higher than normal. If you’re a senior, you may need a lower dose or a different schedule. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Albuterol is used for short-term and long-term treatment. You can use this drug during flare-ups for your asthma. You might also need to take this drug long-term to relieve shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing due to your asthma. Albuterol comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: If you don’t take albuterol at all, your asthma might get worse. This can lead to irreversible scarring of your airway. You’ll likely have shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: This drug is used on an as-needed basis. However, if you’re having acute flare-ups of asthma, you should be taking this drug 3 to 4 times a day. If you don’t take it on schedule during this time, you’ll likely have more trouble breathing. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. You may have the following symptoms:
If you think you’ve taken too much of the drug, act right away. Call your doctor or local poison control center, or go to the nearest emergency room. What to do if you miss a dose: This drug can be used as needed. If you’re using it on a scheduled basis (for asthma flare-ups) and miss a dose, take your dose as soon as you remember. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. How to tell if the drug is working: If this drug is working, your asthma symptoms should get better. You may not have as much shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes albuterol for you. General
Storage
Medication usage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Self-managementYour doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will show you how to prime and use your metered dose inhaler. Prime your metered dose inhaler as often as the manufacturer’s instructions say to do so. To use your inhaler:
Clinical monitoringYour doctor will monitor your lung function. This will tell you if your medication is working. This monitoring may be done using spirometry. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. How would the nurse determine the effectiveness of albuterol therapy?An innovative form of ventilation with monitoring of the electrical activity of the diaphragm with a special sensor-embedded catheter is used to assess the effectiveness of albuterol administration.
Which condition is contraindicated for administration of albuterol?Hypersensitivity is a contraindication for albuterol.
What are the indications for albuterol?Albuterol is used to prevent and treat difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness caused by lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways).
Which of the following conditions is albuterol prescribed?Albuterol is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in patients with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It is also used to prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise. Albuterol belongs to the family of medicines known as adrenergic bronchodilators.
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