Respirol

Inhalational/Oral:

Albuterol may cause serious side effects. See "Albuterol Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of albuterol include:

• your heart feels like it is pounding or racing (palpitations)
• chest pain
• fast heart rate
• shakiness
• nervousness
• headache
• dizziness
• sore throat
• runny nose

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of albuterol. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Albuterol and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Albuterol may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way albuterol works.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• other inhaled medicines or asthma medicines
• beta blocker medicines
• diuretics
• digoxin
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• tricyclic antidepressants

This is not a complete list of albuterol drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Inhalational/Oral:

Albuterol may cause serious side effects, including:

• worsening trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this happens stop using albuterol and call your doctor or get emergency help right away. Paradoxical bronchospasm is more likely to happen with your first use of a new canister of medicine.
• heart problems including faster heart rate and higher blood pressure
• possible death in people with asthma who use too much albuterol
• allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • itchy skin
  • swelling beneath your skin or in your throat
  • rash
  • worsening trouble breathing
• low potassium levels in your blood
• worsening of other medical problems in people who also use albuterol including increases in blood sugar

Do not use albuterol if you are allergic to albuterol sulfate or any of the ingredients in albuterol. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Albuterol falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with albuterol. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Use albuterol exactly as your doctor tells you to use it.

Inhalational:

• Aerosol Spray
  • If your child needs to use albuterol, watch your child closely to make sure your child uses the inhaler correctly. Your doctor will show you how your child should use albuterol.
  • Each dose of albuterol should last up to 4 hours to 6 hours.
  • Do not increase your dose or take extra doses of albuterol without first talking to your doctor.
  • Get medical help right away if albuterol no longer helps your symptoms.
  • Get medical help right away if your symptoms get worse or if you need to use your inhaler more often.
  • While you are using albuterol, do not use other inhaled rescue medicines and asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to do so.
  • Call your doctor if your asthma symptoms like wheezing and trouble breathing become worse over a few hours or days. Your doctor may need to give you another medicine (for example, corticosteroids) to treat your symptoms.
• Solution for Nebulization
  • The albuterol for nebulization is usually taken 3 or 4 times daily, as needed. More frequent use is not recommended.
  • Use the entire contents of one unit-dose vial. Adjust the flow rate to deliver albuterol over 5 to 15 minutes.
  • To control recurring bouts of bronchospasm, using albuterol for nebulization on a regular basis works best.
  • If the medication does not seem to be working, seek medical advice immediately. This is often a sign of seriously worsening asthma.
  • Efficacy and safety of this medication, when mixed with other drugs in a nebulizer, have not been determined.
  • The safety and efficacy of this medication have been established with the Pari LC Plus nebulizer and Pari PRONEB compressor. The safety and efficacy of albuterol for nebulization with other nebulizer systems have not been determined.
  • Albuterol for nebulization should be used with a jet nebulizer connected to an air compressor with adequate air flow. It should also be used with a mouthpiece or suitable face mask.

Oral

• The regular release tablets and syrup are usually taken three or four times a day.
• Albuterol extended release tablets must be swallowed whole with the aid of liquids.
• Do not crush or chew extended release tablets.

Inhalational:

Albuterol aerosol spray

• Do not use the inhaler after the expiration date, which is on the packaging it comes in.
• Store between 15° and 25° C (59° and 77° F). Avoid exposure to extreme heat and cold. For best results, canister should be at room temperature. Store the inhaler with the mouthpiece down. Shake well before each spray.
• Do not puncture. Do not use or store near heat or open flame. Exposure to temperatures above 120°F may cause bursting. Never throw container into fire or incinerator.
• It is very important to keep the plastic actuator clean so the medicine will not build-up and block the spray. Do not try to clean the metal canister or let it get wet. The inhaler may stop spraying if it is not cleaned correctly. Wash the actuator at least once a week with warm water and let it air-dry completely.
• As with all aerosol medications, it is recommended to prime the inhaler before using for the first time and in cases where the inhaler has not been used for more than 2 weeks. Prime by releasing four “test sprays” into the air, away from your face.

A) Albuterol aerosol spray

• Before you reach 200 sprays, you should refill your prescription or ask your doctor if you need another prescription for albuterol HFA.
• Throw the inhaler away when you have used 200 sprays. You should not keep using the inhaler after 200 sprays even though the canister may not be completely empty because you cannot be sure you will receive any medicine.

B) Albuterol aerosol spray- with dose counter

• Discard albuterol inhaler when the counter reads 000 or 12 months after it is taken out of the foil pouch, whichever comes first.
• When the counter reads 020, contact your pharmacist for a refill or talk to your doctor to determine whether a prescription refill is needed.
• Never try to alter the numbers or remove the counter from the metal canister.
• Never immerse the canister in water to determine the amount of drug remaining in the canister.

Albuterol for nebulization

• ​Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light and excessive heat.
• Store vials in protective foil pouch at all times. Once removed from the foil pouch, use vial(s) within 1 week. Discard the vial if the solution is not colorless.
• Keep out of the reach of children.

Tablets

• Dispense in a well-closed, light-resistant container.
• Replace cap securely after each opening.
• Store at room temperature.

Syrup

• Store at controlled room temperature 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F).
• Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP/NF.
• Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children.