Highlights
- Albuterol is a bronchodilator, a medication that quickly opens up the airways during an asthma attack.
- While some asthma medications are prescribed for long-term maintenance of the condition, albuterol is a rescue medication, designed to be taken during acute attacks.
- Albuterol users should be mindful of the potential side effects and interactions with other drugs and contact their doctor if they experience new or unusual symptoms after beginning albuterol.
- Albuterol is not a good choice for people with certain medical conditions.
Asthma affects nearly 25 million Americans, and can severely impact quality of life. Albuterol is considered a rescue medication that provides short-term relief from acute asthma attacks. Learn how albuterol helps with asthma, who it’s best for, when not to take it, and how to get the lowest price for albuterol.
What Is Albuterol and What Is It Used For?
Albuterol is a bronchodilator, a drug that relaxes the smooth muscle in the airways, and is used primarily for treating asthma. First discovered in the 1960s, and available as a generic drug as of 2020, it’s sold under the brand names Proventil, ProAir, and AccuNeb, among others.
How Does Albuterol Work?
Albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist. It binds to receptors in smooth muscle cells in the airway that normally attach to the adrenaline hormone. Albuterol mimics the action of adrenaline on beta2-adrenergic receptors, which relaxes the muscles and lets air flow into the lungs more freely.
What Formulas Are Available for Albuterol?
Albuterol is available in a number of formulations:
- Inhaler
- Nebulizer
- Syrup
- Tablet
- Long-acting tablet
Which form you use will depend on your specific needs. For example, tablets can take up to half an hour to begin working, while inhaled albuterol takes effect in minutes. Review possible formulations with your doctor to see which works best for your needs.
Albuterol Dosage and Administration
Initial dosage depends on the formulation and medical guidance. For example, doctors generally will prescribe a number of puffs from an inhaler regularly throughout the day, usually every four to six hours, while initial dosage with tablets may be 2 milligrams to 4 milligrams a day.
Discuss dosage with your doctor and the approach they want to take when starting you on albuterol or when switching formulations.
How Should I Take Albuterol?
Since albuterol has so many formulations, the instructions will vary widely.
- Read the directions carefully and follow them exactly. If you’re not clear on anything in the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify them.
- Tablets should not be crushed, chewed, or otherwise broken up. Swallow them whole with plenty of water.
- Inhaled and nebulized albuterol should be at room temperature before taking.
- When using an inhaled version, breathe out fully, as hard as you can, to get the most air out of your lungs.
- Cap your inhaler or actuator when not in use, and keep it clean according to the provided instructions.
- Keep inhalers and actuators dry.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Albuterol?
Common side effects of albuterol include:
- Chest pain
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain when urinating
- Dizziness
- A nervous or shaky feeling
- Headaches
- Back pain or other body aches
- Coughing
- Sore through
- Runny nose
- Pain in the sinuses
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience these more-serious side effects:
- Any breathing problems after taking albuterol, including wheezing or choking
- Chest pain accompanied by a rapid or pounding heart rate
- Severe pain or a burning sensation while urinating
- Unusual hunger or thirst
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusually dry skin
- Any sign of low potassium including:
- Leg cramping
- Constipation
- Irregular heartbeat or a fluttering feeling in your chest
- Extreme thirst
- Tingling or numbness
- Muscle weakness or a feeling of limpness
What Should I Avoid When Taking Albuterol?
Avoid other beta-agonist medications if you’re taking albuterol in inhaler or nebulizer form (though it’s OK to take other inhalant medications, such as corticosteroids). Also avoid any herbal supplements and review any medication you regularly take, including over-the-counter medication and supplements, with your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking albuterol. Don’t begin any new ones without clearing them with your provider first.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Albuterol?
If you miss a dose of albuterol, you should not take the missed dose unless it is within 1-2 hours of your next scheduled dose. If it is more than 1-2 hours until your next scheduled dose, you should skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
What Should I Do If I Overdose on Albuterol?
If you’ve accidentally taken an overdose of albuterol and are experiencing at least some of the following symptoms, seek medical attention:
- Tightness in the chest
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid breathing or shallow breaths
- Wheezing
- Blurred vision
- Tingling of the hands or feet
- Tremors
- Seizures
Who Should Not Take Albuterol?
If you have any of the following, only take albuterol if your doctor clears it for you:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Congestive heart failure
- Any heart rhythm disorder
- Any seizure disorder
- Diabetes
- An overactive thyroid
- Low blood potassium
Some studies have shown that albuterol can be safe for use during pregnancy, but more research is needed. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using albuterol.
Are There Any Potential Drug Interactions With Albuterol?
Albuterol should not be used with the following medications:
- Any other beta2-agonist. If albuterol is with other inhaled beta2-agonists, they could potentially compete for the same receptors in the lungs, which might affect the absorption and effectiveness of the medications. Additionally, using multiple medications that have similar effects can increase the risk of an overdose or exacerbate side effects. Examples of commonly prescribed beta2-agonists are:
- Salmeterol (Serevent)
- Formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist)
- Terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl)
- Pirbuterol (Maxair)
- Digoxin. Albuterol can reduce the amount of digoxin in the blood. When these two drugs are combined, they may raise the risk of a serious heart rhythm problem.
- Diuretics. Because albuterol affects your blood potassium levels, taking it with diuretics can raise the risk of low potassium levels in the blood.
- Antidepressants. In combination, antidepressants and albuterol can increase the risk of heart-related side effects from both drugs.
- Beta-blockers. Beta-blockers use the same receptors as albuterol, and may keep it from relaxing the airways. Common beta-blockers include:
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL)
- Propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA)
- Carvedilol (Coreg)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Nebivolol (Bystolic)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Sotalol (Betapace)
- MAO inhibitors. Combining MAO inhibitors and albuterol can raise the risk of heart and blood pressure related side effects. It’s recommended to stay off MAO inhibitors for at least two weeks before beginning albuterol. Examples of MAOIs include:
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar)
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