Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to
the lungs.
Albuterol inhalation is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible
obstructive airway disease. Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Albuterol inhalation may also be used for conditions other than those listed in this
medication guide.
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in
larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions
on your prescription label.
This medication may increase the risk of asthma-related death. It is critical that you use
only the prescribed dose of this medicine and follow all patient instructions for safe use of the
medication.
Albuterol inhalation comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow
these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
When using the inhaler device for the first time, prime it by spraying 4 test sprays into the
air, away from your face. Shake well before priming. Also prime the inhaler if you have not
used it for 2 weeks or longer, or if you have dropped the inhaler.
The instructions below are for standard use of the inhaler and nebulizer devices.
Your doctor may want you to use your device differently. Be sure you understand all instructions
that are specific to your use of this medication. Use only the inhaler device provided with your
medicine or you may not get the correct dose.
To use the inhaler:
Shake the canister well just before each spray.
Uncap the mouthpiece of the inhaler. Breathe out fully.
Put the mouthpiece into your mouth and close your lips. Keep your eyes closed to prevent
spraying any medicine into your eyes. Breathe in slowly while pushing down on the canister.
Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then breathe out slowly.
If you use more than one inhalation at a time, wait at least
1 minute before using the second inhalation and shake the inhaler again.
Keep your inhaler clean and dry, and store it with the cap
on the mouthpiece. Clean your inhaler once a week by removing the canister and placing the
mouthpiece under warm running water for at least 30 seconds. Shake out the excess water and
allow the parts to air dry before putting the inhaler back together.
If your mouthpiece is not completely dry when you put the
canister back in it, the mouthpiece can become blocked. If the inhaler does not spray a fine mist,
clean the mouthpiece again and air-dry thoroughly before putting the inhaler together again.
Never place the canister in water.
To use the solution with a nebulizer:
Measure the correct amount of medicine using the dropper
provided, or use the proper number of ampules. Place the liquid into the medication chamber of
the nebulizer. If using a medicine dropper, do not allow the dropper to touch any surface
including your hands or the nebulizer.
Attach the mouthpiece or face mask to the drug chamber.
Then, attach the drug chamber to the compressor. Sit upright in a comfortable position. Place
the mouthpiece into your mouth or put the face mask on, covering your nose and mouth. Breathe
in slowly and evenly until you have inhaled all of the medicine (usually 5 to 15 minutes). The
treatment is complete when no more mist is formed by the nebulizer and the drug chamber is
empty.
Clean the nebulizer after each use. Follow the cleaning
directions that came with your nebulizer.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not
working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use
more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.
It is important to use this medication regularly to get the most benefit. Get your
prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Keep using all of your other
medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Extreme
heat can cause the medicine canister to burst. Do not store it in your car on hot days. Do not
throw an empty canister into open flame.
Throw away the inhaler canister after 2 months or 200 sprays (when the spray counter
reads "000”), which ever comes first. Throw the canister away even if it feels like there is still
medicine in it.
Stop using this medication and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face,
lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using albuterol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing),
especially after starting a new canister of this medicine;
chest pain and fast, pounding, or uneven heart beats;
Continue using this medication and talk with your doctor if you have
any of these less serious side effects:
headache, dizziness, nervousness;
sleep problems (insomnia);
cough, hoarseness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose;
dry mouth and throat;
muscle pain; or
diarrhea.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following
medicines:
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
a beta-blocker such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol
(Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor), or propranolol (Inderal);
a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix),
bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), torsemide (Demadex), hydrochlorothiazide
(Hydrodiuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), or chlorothiazide (Diuril);
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine
(Parnate); or
other bronchodilators such as levalbuterol (Xopenex),
bitolterol (Tornalate), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl), salmeterol
(Serevent), isoetherine (Bronkometer), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), or isoproterenol
(Isuprel Mistometer).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
albuterol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect albuterol. Tell your doctor about all
the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals,
herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication
without telling your doctor.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine. An overdose of albuterol can be fatal. Symptoms of an albuterol
inhalation overdose may include nervousness, headache, tremor, dry mouth, chest pain or heavy
feeling, rapid or uneven heart rate, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating,
dizziness, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed or fainting.
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
It is important to use this medication regularly to get the most benefit. Get your
prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Keep using all of your other
medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual,
or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your
medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine. An overdose of albuterol can be fatal. Symptoms of an albuterol
inhalation overdose may include nervousness, headache, tremor, dry mouth, chest pain or heavy
feeling, rapid or uneven heart rate, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating,
dizziness, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed or fainting.
Extreme heat can cause the medicine canister to burst. Do not store your inhaler in
your car on hot days. Do not throw an empty canister into open flame.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
heart disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure;
a heart rhythm disorder;
a seizure disorder such as epilepsy;
diabetes;
overactive thyroid;
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
albuterol inhalation or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether albuterol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old.
Albuterol inhalation is available with a prescription under the brand names Ventolin and
Proventil. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any
questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Ventolin 17 g—light-blue inhaler with a dark-blue mouthpiece
cover
Ventolin HFA 18 g—blue inhaler and mouthpiece with
strapcap
Proventil 17 g—yellow inhaler with an orange mouthpiece
cover
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive.
Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and end-users in the United States. Cerner Multum does not warrant
that uses outside of the United States are appropriate. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy.
Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or
to serve end-users viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare
practitioners. Healthcare practitioners should use their professional judgment in using the information provided. The absence of a warning for a
given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for
any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2007 Cerner Multum, Inc. All rights reserved.
Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement,
which can be accessed by clicking on this link.
