What are Albuterol and Inhalation?
Albuterol is a powerful bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles of the airways and also increases the flow of air to the lungs.
Albuterol inhalation can be used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, or the narrowing of lung airways, in people suffering from asthma or other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (copd). Also, it is used to treat bronchospasm caused by exercise.
Albuterol inhalation can be used for children and adults who are at least 4 years old. Follow your physician's guidelines when prescribing albuterol to your child.
Cautions
It is crucial to keep albuterol available at all times. Refill your prescription prior to the time you run out of the medicine completely. Continue to take all your other medicines as directed by your physician.
Discuss this with your physician. If any of your asthma medications do not seem to be working as effectively in preventing or treating attacks, if you feel that you're required to take more of any medication within a 24-hour time frame, consult your physician. A higher need for medication could be a sign of a serious asthma attack.
Use albuterol only as directed by your doctor. A dose of albuterol that is too high could be fatal. Get medical attention immediately or contact the poison help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222. Albuterol overdoses could be fatal. For medical emergencies, seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.
Prior to Use this Drug
It is not recommended to use this medicine if you're allergic to albuterol. Do not take proair respiclick if you are sensitive to milk protein.
Albuterol can increase the chance of death or hospitalization for people suffering from asthma. However, how much risk there is for people suffering from obstructive airway illness or chronic lung disease (copd) isn't known.
To ensure that the albuterol inhalation medication is safe for you, inform your doctor whether you suffer from:
- Heart disease high blood pressure and congestive heart failure
- A heart rhythm disorder
- A seizure disorder such as epilepsy;
- Diabetes;
- Hyperactive thyroid
- Low levels of potassium are present in the blood.
Inform your physician if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant. It's not clear if albuterol is harmful to an unborn baby. However, if you suffer from asthma uncontrolled during pregnancy, it can increase the likelihood of premature birth, low birth weight, and the condition known as eclampsia (dangerous hypertension that could cause medical issues for both the mother and baby). The advantages of avoiding breathing problems could outweigh any risk for the baby.
If you're pregnant and you are a registered mother, your name could be included on the pregnancy registry to monitor what effects albuterol has on the baby.
It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking this medication. Consult your physician regarding any risks.
How to take Albuterol and Inhalation?
Utilize albuterol inhalation according to the prescription of your physician. Follow all the instructions on the label of your prescription. Don't use albuterol inhalation in larger doses or for longer periods than the recommended duration.
Check all information about your patient, such as medication guides and instructions provided to you. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you have any concerns.
It may be necessary to make sure that your inhaler device is primed prior to the first time you use it. The medication comes with instructions to prime your device if you need to. It is also possible to shake up your albuterol product prior to each use.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your inhaler is essential to ensuring that you're getting the medicine. Clean the actuator using the canister that is taken off every once in a while. The medicine you purchased comes with instructions on how to properly clean your device.
Follow all medication directions attentively.
Do not permit a small child to take albuterol by inhalation without assistance from an adult.
The recommended dosage of albuterol inhalation is 2 inhalations every 4–6 hours. To prevent bronchospasm from exercise, take two inhalations 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise. The effects of inhaling albuterol are expected to last for 4 to 6 hours.
Consult a doctor if you believe your asthma medication isn't working properly. An increased need for medications could be an indication of a severe asthma attack.
Make use of the dose counter on the device for your albuterol inhaler and fill your prescription prior to running out of medication completely. Always use the inhaler device that comes with your refill. Don't immerse a medicine container in water to check whether it's empty.
Proair hfa proventil hfa and ventolin hfa are required to be shaken before every use. It is not necessary to shake proair respiclick prior to making use of it.
Follow the product's instructions regarding how to clean your albuterol inhaler device as well as its mouthpiece. Do not attempt to clean or disassemble the proair respiclick inhaler device.
Asthma is usually treated with a variety of medications. Follow all medications as prescribed by your physician. Take note of the medication guide or patient's directions that are included with every medication. Do not alter your dosage or your medication schedule without a physician's guidance.
Keep at room temperature, free of heat, moisture, or cold temperatures.
The albuterol canister should be kept away from direct flames or extreme heat, like in an automobile during a hot summer day. The canister might explode if it gets too hot. Avoid burning or puncturing an empty inhaler container.
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
Take the missed dose when you remember. Avoid any missed doses if you are close to the time of the next dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
What Happens If I Overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222. A high dose of albuterol can cause death.
The symptoms of an overdose can include dry mouth as well as chest pain, tremors, irregular or fast heartbeats, nausea, a general sick sensation, seizures (convulsions), or feeling lightheaded or fainting.
What Should be Avoided?
Rinse thoroughly with water if this medication gets into your eyes.
Side Effects of Albuterol Inhalation
See a doctor immediately if you exhibit symptoms that you are experiencing an allergic reaction to albuterol, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face.
Contact your doctor immediately. If you suffer from:
- Wheezing, choking, or any other breathing problems following taking this medication;
- Chest pain, fast heartbeats, rapid heartbeats, or a fluttering chest;
- Discomfort or burning sensation during urination;
- Increased thirst, more frequent consumption of food, dry mouth, fruity breath, and dry skin reduced vision, weight gain, or
- Indicators of low potassium levels: constipation, leg cramps, unsteady heart beats, an erratic flutter around your chest, excessive thirst, frequent urination, sensations of tingling or numbness, muscle weakening, or a limp sensation.
Common side effects of albuterol include:
- Chest pain; fast or pounding heartbeats;
- Upset stomach, vomiting;
- Painful urination;
- Dizziness;
- Being nervous or shaken;
- Back pain, headaches, back pain, or
- Sore throat, cough, sinus pain, a runny nose, or nasal stuffiness
This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur. Contact your doctor for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any side effects to the fda at 1-800-fda-1088.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Discuss with your physician all the medicines you are currently taking and all you are about to start or stop taking, in particular:
- Any other inhaled medications or other bronchodilators;
- Digoxin;
- Diuretic, also known as a "water pill";
- An antidepressant, amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, and doxepin, nortriptyline, among other antidepressants;
- Beta blockers such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and more
- A mao inhibitor isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, selegiline, rasagiline, tranylcypromine, and others; and methylene blue injection
This list isn't comprehensive. Other medications may be incompatible with albuterol inhalation, such as prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products. There are not all the interactions mentioned in this medication guide.
