What You Need to Know About Albuterol
If you’re looking at medications to control asthma, cardiopulmonary disorder or lung diseases that interfere with your breathing, you may be considering a medication containing albuterol. Before you start taking any medication with albuterol, you should learn everything you can about it.
What is albuterol? What does it do?
Albuterol is used to prevent and treat wheezing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness caused by lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Albuterol is a type of medication called a “bronchodilator.” It relaxes and opens closed or tightened air passages in the bronchial tubes, to let air into the lungs and make breathing easier.1
Albuterol is prescribed to treat the symptoms of these lung conditions but does not cure them. It is sold under multiple brand names in the United States.2
Does Albeterol work?
A study of infants being treated for wheezing (bronchiolitis) concluded that albuterol was as effective as placebo.3
An Oregon review of studies compared albuterol and other medications for treating asthma in adults and children. This review found albuterol, in all delivery methods, to work as well as other medications in treating symptoms of asthma in adults and children and side effects were mild and rare.4
What should I go over with my doctor before I decide to take albuterol?
Serious side effects of albuterol can include tremor and increased or irregular heart rate. Common side effects can include restlessness, irritability and nervousness.5
It is possible to take too much albuterol and overdose. Symptoms of overdose can include seizures, chest pain, fast or irregular or pounding heartbeat, nervousness, headache, uncontrollable shaking of a body part, nausea and dizziness.6
What if I’m already taking albuterol?
Never stop taking any prescription medication without talking to your doctor first. In the event of an asthma or other respiratory attack, not having medication to control it can prove very dangerous. If you are already taking albuterol and are concerned about side effects, talk to your doctor.
Learn everything you can about albuterol before you start taking it.
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1 PubMed Health, “Albuterol,” (reviewed 1 September 2010), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000355/2 Medline Plus, “Albuterol Inhalation” (retrieved 24 October 2012), http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682145.html
3 Pediatrics, Gadomski AM et al., “Efficacy of albuterol in the management of bronchiolitis,” (June 1993), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8190575
4 Oregon Health Sciences University, Norris S. et al., “Drug Class Review on Beta2-Agonists Final Report ” (November 2006)http://derp.ohsu.edu/final/BA_final_report_orginal.pdf
5 Mayo Clinic, “Asthma attack,” (retrieved 24 October 2012), http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/albuterol-side-effects/AN01065
6 Medline Plus, “Albuterol Inhalation” (retrieved 24 October 2012), http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682145.html