Asthma

Bronchodilator: Short-acting Beta2 agonist

What are other names for this medication?
Some other names for this medicine are albuterol, pirbuterol, and levalbuterol. Some product names include: Proventil, Proventil HFA, Ventolin, Maxair, Maxair Autohaler and Xopenex.
Combivent is an metered-dose inhaler that contains both albuterol and ipratropium bromide.

What does this drug do?
This drug is a quick-relief medicine that works fast to relax the muscles of the airways and decrease the amount of mucus produced. It can also prevent the tightening of the muscles around the airways (bronchospasm) caused by asthma triggers such as pollens, exercise, cold air, and air pollutants.
This medicine should be used to treat acute asthma attacks.

How is it taken?
This medication can be inhaled as a fine mist from a nebulizer or from a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). There is also an oral form that is occasionally used.

What is the usual dose?
Nebulizer: The most common nebulizer dose of albuterol is 1.25 to 2.5 mg (0.25 to 0.5 ml) mixed with 2 ml of saline (salt water). Levalbuterol (Xopenex) comes in premixed vials.
MDI: The most common dose for an MDI is 2 puffs, which should be repeated no more often than every 4 hours without approval from your child's doctor. Call the doctor if your child needs a dose more than every 4 hours. It is best to use a spacer or holding chamber with the MDI so more medicine reaches the lungs.

What side effects can this drug cause?
The most common side effects are jitteriness and an increased heart rate.

What special instructions should be followed?
Do not increase the number of treatments to greater than ________ within a 24-hour period without checking with your doctor. If it seems like your child needs more treatments because the asthma symptoms are not helped by the medicine, call your doctor.

Adapted from material written by the Asthma Task Force at The Children's Hospital, Denver.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.