Ventolin Nebules

Albuterol is the generic form of the brand-name drugs Proventil, ProAir, and Ventolin, which are used to treat lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Albuterol can quickly relieve shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. It's in a class of drugs known as bronchodilators, which work by relaxing and opening air passages to the lungs.

This medicine is sometimes used to treat or improve muscle paralysis in people with a condition that causes paralysis attacks (such as hyperkalemic periodic paralysis).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved albuterol in 1982.

Albuterol Warnings

You should keep albuterol with you at all times and get your prescription refilled before you run out of this medication.

Albuterol can control symptoms of asthma and other lung diseases, but it doesn't cure them. You should not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.

This medicine can sometimes cause wheezing or breathing difficulties immediately after it's inhaled. You should call your doctor right away if this happens to you.

You should also tell your doctor if your symptoms worsen or if albuterol stops helping your symptoms.

Before taking albuterol, tell your healthcare provider if you have or have ever had:

• An irregular heartbeat
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes
• Seizures

Don't use your albuterol inhaler near a flame or source of heat. The inhaler can explode when exposed to very high temperatures.

Pregnancy and Albuterol

Albuterol is an FDA Pregnancy Category C drug, which means it's not known whether it will harm an unborn baby. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking albuterol.

It's also not known whether this drug passes into breast milk and could harm a breastfeeding baby. You should talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while taking albuterol.

Albuterol is a prescription medication used to treat bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in people who have reversible obstructive airway disease. It may also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Albuterol belongs to a group of drugs called beta agonists. These cause the smooth muscle of the airways to relax, making it easier to breathe.

Albuterol comes as a tablet, a syrup, and an extended release tablet to take by mouth. The tablets and syrup are usually taken three or four times a day. The extended release tablets are usually taken once every 12 hours. 

Albuterol also comes as a solution to be inhaled into the mouth using a nebulizer and is usually used 3 or 4 times a day.

This medication also comes as aerosol to inhale by mouth using an inhaler. When the aerosol is used to treat or prevent symptoms of lung disease, it is usually used every 4 to 6 hours as needed. When the aerosol is used to prevent breathing difficulty during exercise, it is usually used 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.

Common side effects include fast heartbeat, shakiness, and nervousness.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of albuterol there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving albuterol.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Syrup

• Adults And Children Over 14 Years Of Age: The usual starting dosage for adults and children over 14 years of age is 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) or 4 mg (2 teaspoonfuls) three or four times a day.
• Children 6 To 14 Years Of Age: The usual starting dosage for children 6 to 14 years of age is 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) three or four times a day.
• Children 2 To 6 Years Of Age: Dosing in children 2 to 6 years of age should be initiated at 0.1 mg/kg of body weight three times a day. This starting dosage should not exceed 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) three times a day.

Aerosol

• Treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm or prevention of asthmatic symptoms
  • The usual dosage for adults and children 12 years of age and older is 2 inhalations repeated every 4 to 6 hours
  • In some, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient. More frequent use or a larger number of inhalations is not recommended.
  • For maintenance therapy or prevention of exacerbation of bronchospasm, 2 inhalations, 4 times a day should be sufficient.
  • If a previously effective dosage fails to provide the usual response, this may be a sign of worsening asthma and requires reevaluation of the treatment regimen.
• ​Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Prevention
  • ​The usual dosage for adults and children 12 years and older is 2 inhalations, 15 minutes before exercise.

Solution for Nebulization

• The usual starting dosage for patients 2 to 12 years of age is 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of AccuNeb (albuterol for nebulization) taken 3 or 4 times daily, as needed, by nebulization.
• To take 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of albuterol, use the entire contents of one vial (3 mL of 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg inhalation solution). Adjust nebulizer flow rate to deliver AccuNeb (albuterol for nebulization) over 5 to 15 minutes.
• Patients 6 to 12 years of age with more severe asthma, weight >40 kg, or patients 11 to 12 years of age may achieve a better initial response with the 1.25 mg dose.

Extended Release Tablets

• Adults and Children over 12 years of age - The usual recommended dosage for adults and pediatric patients over 12 years of age is 8 mg every 12 hours. In some patients, 4 mg every 12 hours may be sufficient.
• Children 6 to 12 years of age - The usual recommended dosage for children 6 through 12 years of age is 4 mg every 12 hours.

Regular Release Tablets

• Adults and Children Over 12 Years of Age - The usual starting dosage for adults and children 12 years and older is 2 or 4 mg three or four times a day.
• Children 6 to 12 Years of Age - The usual starting dosage for children 6 to 12 years of age is 2 mg three or four times a day.