albuterol
Albuterol nebulized solution is a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA). It treats sudden episodes of difficulty breathing in adults and children with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Albuterol nebulized solution is placed into a nebulizer, which is a machine that turns the solution into a mist that you can breathe in. Typically, the medication is used every 6 hours as needed to help with breathing. Side effects include shakiness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
What is Albuterol nebulized solution?
What is Albuterol nebulized solution used for?
How Albuterol nebulized solution works
Albuterol nebulized solution is a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA). It works by relaxing the muscles in your lungs to open up your airways. This makes it easier to breathe.
Drug facts
Side effects of Albuterol nebulized solution
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
For the 2.5 mg/3 mL dosage strength:
- Shakiness (20%)
- Shortness of breath (bronchospasm, 8%)
- Dizziness (7%)
- Cough (4%)
- Nausea (4%)
- Nervousness (4%)
- Headache (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Trouble sleeping
Albuterol nebulized solution serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction: hives, swelling of your face or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Sudden narrowing of your airways: difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, cough
- Heart problem: dizziness, fatigue, weakness, tremor, irregular heartbeat, worsening symptoms of heart problem you already have
The following Albuterol nebulized solution side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
Less common
Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
Rare
difficulty breathing
difficulty with swallowing
hives or welts
hoarseness
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
noisy breathing
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
skin rash
slow or irregular breathing
swelling of the mouth or throat
tightness in the chest
Incidence not known
Agitation
arm, back, or jaw pain
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
confusion
convulsions
extra heartbeats
fainting
hallucinations
headache
irritability
lightheadedness
mood or mental changes
muscle pain or cramps
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
nervousness
nightmares
pounding in the ears
restlessness
sudden loss of consciousness
sweating
total body jerking
unusual feeling of excitement
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Dizziness
feeling of warmth
irritability
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
trouble with holding or releasing urine
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
Rare
Sleepiness
unusual drowsiness
Incidence not known
Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
change in taste
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
gagging
rough, scratchy sound to voice
sensation of spinning
tightness in the throat
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Albuterol nebulized solution
Pros
- Works well for relieving wheezing or shortness of breath
- Can use for children as young as 2 years old (for the 0.63 mg/3 mL and 1.25 mg/3 mL strengths)
- Generally safe to use while pregnant and breastfeeding
Cons
- Takes about 5 to 15 minutes to take the whole dose
- Need to use with a nebulizer machine (portable, but needs to be plugged in to a power source); might not be ideal for someone who's on the go
- Shouldn't be used often to manage breathing problems
Pharmacist tips for Albuterol nebulized solution
- Albuterol nebulized solution is available in different dosage strengths: 0.63 mg/3 mL, 1.25 mg/3 mL, 2.5 mg/3 mL, and 2.5 mg/0.5 mL. Make sure you know which strength you have and what your dose is. Ask your pulmonologist or pharmacist if you're not sure.
- Call your pulmonologist if your breathing gets worse or if it doesn't improve after you use albuterol nebulized solution. Also contact your pulmonologist if you're using the medication more often than usual. These could be signs that you need a change in your treatment plan to better manage your breathing problem.
- Don't start any new medications while you're taking albuterol nebulized solution without asking your pulmonologist or pharmacist first. Your care team can help check that all your medications are safe to take together. Albuterol can interact with other medications, like beta blockers and certain water pills (diuretics). These interactions can either make your medications work less well or raise your risk for harmful side effects.
Tips on how to use albuterol nebulized solution:
- Carefully read the instructions on how to use albuterol nebulized solution with a nebulizer machine. Ask your pulmonologist or pharmacist if you have any questions about using the medication.
- Keep the vials of albuterol nebulized solution in the original foil pouch and store at room temperature. After opening the pouch, keep any unused vials in the foil pouch to protect them from light.
- Before you use a vial of albuterol nebulized solution, check the solution to make sure it's clear, colorless to light yellow. If it's discolored, throw the vial away and use a new one to be sure it's safe for you to use.
- Sit upright in a comfortable position during your breathing treatment. Breathe as calmly, deeply, and evenly as possible through your mouth using the mouthpiece or face mask until there's no more mist coming out of the nebulizer.
- Clean your nebulizer after each time you use it. This helps prevent lung infections that can happen if you use a nebulizer machine that isn't cleaned well.
Common questions about Albuterol
Accuneb starts to open up your airways and help you breathe easier within minutes after a dose. But the maximum effect of the medication can take up to 1 hour.
In clinical studies, Accuneb helped most people breathe easier for about 3 to 4 hours. For some people, the effects of the medication lasted for up to 6 hours.
A typical treatment with Accuneb lasts about 5 to 15 minutes. The treatment is complete when there isn't any more mist that comes out of the nebulizer.
No, Accuneb isn't a steroid; it's a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA). Steroids and SABAs work differently to help you breathe easier. Steroids lessen inflammation and swelling in the lungs over time. On the other hand, SABAs work quickly to relax the muscles in your lungs and open up the airways. Your pulmonologist might prescribe an inhaled steroid for you to use along with Accuneb. The inhaled steroid is typically used every day to help keep your airways open in the long-run, and Accuneb is only used as a rescue medication to treat sudden trouble breathing.
Accuneb can help with a cough that's a symptom of a breathing problem like asthma or COPD. But Accuneb won't help with a cough from other causes, like the common cold or a respiratory infection. Ask your primary care provider about available treatment options if you don't have asthma or COPD and you have a cough.
Most side effects of Accuneb go away with time. These side effects include tremor (or shakiness), dizziness, and nervousness. Talk with your pulmonologist if these side effects don't seem to go away as you continue to use the medication. But contact your pulmonologist right away if your breathing gets worse or if you have chest tightness or shortness of breath after you use Accuneb. You might need a different medication in this case. Talk with your pulmonologist if you have questions about a particular side effect of Accuneb.
It's possible for Accuneb to raise your heart rate. Some people have also reported that Accuneb caused changes to their blood pressure (either went up or went down). Because Accuneb is inhaled, the medication isn't expected to raise your heart rate or change your blood pressure by a lot. But to be safe, it's always best to let your pulmonologist know if you have medical conditions like high blood pressure or heart rate problems (e.g., atrial fibrillation or AFib) before you start Accuneb.
Yes, Accuneb is considered safe to use during pregnancy. Your dose doesn't need to be adjusted while pregnant. Remember that it's not recommended to use Accuneb more than what's prescribed because this raises your risk that more medication gets absorbed into your body. This can then raise your risk for side effects, which might affect your baby's health.
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Risks and warnings for Albuterol nebulized solution
Albuterol nebulized solution can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Sudden difficulty breathing (bronchospasm)
Although rare, albuterol nebulized solution can sometimes cause a muscle spasm in your lungs. This is called bronchospasm. It can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, and chest discomfort. Get medical help right away if you become short of breath after you use albuterol nebulized solution.
Heart problems
- Risk factors: High blood pressure | Heart failure | Heart rate or rhythm problems | Using more albuterol nebulized solution than recommended
Albuterol nebulized solution can cause changes in your blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm. But these side effects are typically unlikely to happen if you're taking the recommended dose of albuterol nebulized solution. Your pulmonologist might ask you to regularly check your blood pressure and heart rate at home if you have high blood pressure or other heart problems.
Tell your pulmonologist if you have dizziness, fatigue, tremor, rapid heartbeat, or weakness after you use albuterol nebulized solution. These can be signs of blood pressure, heart rate, or heart rhythm changes.
Don't use albuterol nebulized solution more often than recommended. Let your healthcare team know if you find that you need to use albuterol nebulized solution more often. Your care team can see whether you need any changes to your treatment plan.
Low potassium in the blood
- Risk factors: Using albuterol nebulized solution too much
Albuterol nebulized solution can cause the potassium levels in your blood to drop too low. In most cases, this happens if you use more albuterol nebulized solution than recommended.
Drops in blood potassium levels are typically mild, and your levels should go back to usual with time. Sometimes, low potassium can cause tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, a racing heart, and a "pins and needles" feeling in your hands and feet. Tell your pulmonologist if you have any of these symptoms while you're using albuterol nebulized solution.
In addition, let your pulmonologist know if you need to use albuterol nebulized solution more often than instructed. Your treatment plan might need to be adjusted to better control your symptoms.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to albuterol nebulized solution are possible. These reactions can include facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat), and they can be life-threatening. Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after you use albuterol nebulized solution.
Albuterol nebulized solution dosage
Vial| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3ml of 0.63mg/3ml | 25 vials | $15.61 | $0.62 |
| 3ml of 2.5mg/3ml | 25 vials | $13.99 | $0.56 |
| 3ml of 1.25mg/3ml | 25 vials | $15.53 | $0.62 |
| 0.5ml of 2.5mg/0.5ml | 30 vials | $16.78 | $0.56 |
Typical dosage for Albuterol nebulized solution
In general, the typical starting dose is 1 vial inhaled through mouth by nebulization 3 to 4 times per day as needed for wheezing or shortness of breath.
Each vial contains either 0.63 mg, 1.25 mg, or 2.5 mg of albuterol, depending on the dosage strength you need. Your pulmonologist will determine your dose based on your age, weight, and the severity of your breathing problem.
Interactions between Albuterol nebulized solution and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acebutolol
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amoxapine
- Arotinolol
- Atenolol
- Atomoxetine
- Befunolol
- Betaxolol
- Bevantolol
- Bisoprolol
- Bopindolol
- Bucindolol
- Bupranolol
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Celiprolol
- Clomipramine
- Desipramine
- Dibenzepin
- Dilevalol
- Doxepin
- Esmolol
- Imipramine
- Iobenguane I 123
- Labetalol
- Landiolol
- Levalbuterol
- Levobunolol
- Lofepramine
- Melitracen
- Mepindolol
- Methacholine
- Metipranolol
- Metoprolol
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nortriptyline
- Opipramol
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Pindolol
- Practolol
- Propranolol
- Protriptyline
- Sotalol
- Talinolol
- Tertatolol
- Tianeptine
- Timolol
- Trimipramine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
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