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Albuterol Coupon - Albuterol 18g of 90mcg hfa inhaler

albuterol tablets

Generic Vospire ER
Used for Asthma, COPD
Used for Asthma, COPD

Albuterol tablet is a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA). Though rarely prescribed today, it's a bronchodilator used to relieve bronchospasm in adults and children 6 years of age and older who have certain breathing conditions, such as asthma. Oral albuterol comes as an immediate-release tablet and syrup. Oral albuterol extended-release tablet (brand name VoSpire ER) has been discontinued. Unlike inhaled albuterol, such as albuterol (Ventolin), albuterol tablet is taken by mouth typically three or four times per day. Possible side effects of oral albuterol tablet include nervousness, excitement, and changes in blood pressure.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
reviewer
Allison Gourley, PharmD
Last reviewed on September 12, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsAlternativesLatest newsImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Albuterol tablet?

What is Albuterol tablet used for?

How Albuterol tablet works

Albuterol tablet is a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA). It helps you breathe better by relaxing the muscles around your airways that tighten up when you have breathing problems.

Are you looking for information on albuterol inhaler (ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil) or albuterol nebulizer solution instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsVoSpire ER (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassSABA
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Avg retail price
$48.90(save 55.15%)
GoodRx discount
$21.93
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What are the side effects of Albuterol tablet?

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

Ages 6 years and older:
  • Tremor (more than 10%)
  • Nervousness (more than 9%)
  • Shakiness (9%)
Ages 2 to under 6 years:
  • Excitement (20%)
  • Nervousness (15%)

Other Side Effects

  • Dizziness
  • Feeling more hungry
  • Hyperactivity
  • Headache
  • Sleeplessness

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 (bronchospasm): difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pain or tightness, cough
  • Heart problems: dizziness, fatigue, weakness, tremor, irregular heartbeat, worsening symptoms of heart problem you already have

Source: DailyMed

The following 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

Cough

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

wheezing

Incidence not known

Agitation

anxiety

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

nausea

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

sleeplessness

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.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Albuterol tablet

thumbs-up

Pros

Available as oral tablets and liquid (syrup)

Might be easier to take than inhalation forms of albuterol for children or people who have poor hand-breath coordination

Syrup can be used in children as young as 2 years old

thumbs-down

Cons

Doesn't work as well and causes more side effects than inhaled albuterol

Needs to be taken multiple times per day and takes about 30 minutes to start working

Place in asthma therapy isn't clear

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Albuterol tablet

pharmacist

  • You can take albuterol tablet with or without food. If it's upsetting your stomach, try taking it with food to help.

    • Call your prescriber if your breathing gets worse or doesn't improve after you take albuterol tablet. This could be a sign that you need a change in your treatment plan for your breathing problem.

      • Don't start any new medications while you're taking albuterol tablet without asking your care team first. Albuterol tablet can interact with other medications, such as blood pressure medications (e.g., beta blockers), tricyclic antidepressants, and the heart medication digoxin (Lanoxin). Some interactions can make your medications work less well, and others can raise your risk for side effects. Your prescriber(s) can check for interactions to make sure your medications are safe to take.

        • Albuterol tablet commonly causes excitement, nervousness, and tremors as side effects. If they're too bothersome and are affecting your daily quality of life, talk to your prescriber. They might lower your dose or switch you to a different medication.

          More tips for albuterol syrup:

          • Use a medication dose cup, spoon, or syringe to measure out your dose of albuterol syrup. Don't use household teaspoons because they're not accurate, so you might end up taking the wrong dose.

            • Store albuterol syrup at room temperature and keep in the original container it came in from the pharmacy. Make sure to keep it out of reach from children, pets, or visitors.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Albuterol tablet

              What's the difference between oral and inhaled forms of albuterol?
              Oral albuterol comes as a tablet and a syrup that's taken by mouth to relief bronchospasm. The inhaled form of albuterol comes as an inhaler and a nebulized solution that are inhaled through the mouth and into the lungs treatment or prevention of bronchospasm. While both are FDA-approved to be quick-relief medications, oral albuterol isn't a recommended option for bronchospasm because it doesn't work as well and tends to cause more side effects compared to inhaled albuterol. Talk with your healthcare team if you have more questions about how oral and inhaled albuterol differ.
              Is albuterol tablet a steroid?
              No, albuterol tablet 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, whereas SABAs are bronchodilators, meaning they relax the muscles in your lungs to open up the airways. Depending on your condition, your prescriber might prescribe an inhaled steroid for you to use along with albuterol tablet.
              How often can you take albuterol tablet?
              Albuterol tablet and syrup are taken by mouth, typically three or four times per day for symptomatic relief of bronchospasm. If you notice your symptoms getting worse or that you need to take the medication more often than usual, talk with your healthcare team and they can discuss with you about next steps. Don't take a higher dose of albuterol tablet than what's recommended because doing so can lead to serious side effects, such as chest pain, tremors, and a pounding heart.
              How long does albuterol tablet stay in your system?
              It can take about a day for most of albuterol tablet to leave your body after a dose. This time-frame is estimated based on the half-life of the medication, and might differ from person to person. Keep in mind the effects of albuterol tablet are expected to last about 8 hours after a single dose.
              Does albuterol tablet raise blood pressure or heart rate?
              Yes, albuterol tablet can raise blood pressure and heart rate, but these side effects are rare. This medication isn't likely to cause changes to your blood pressure or heart rate if you take it at the recommended dose. To be safe, it's always best to let your care team know if you have medical conditions like high blood pressure or heart rate problems (e.g., atrial fibrillation or AFib) before you start albuterol tablet.
              Does albuterol tablet keep you awake?
              Yes, it's possible for albuterol tablet to keep you awake. In clinical studies, many people reported nervousness and excitement as side effects, which can make it hard for you to fall asleep. If albuterol tablet is affecting your sleep, talk to your prescriber. They might adjust your dose, give you specific instructions on when to take your dose based on the time you sleep, or switch you to a different medication.
              Does albuterol tablet help with bronchitis?
              Yes, albuterol tablet can be prescribed to treat bronchospasm that's related to bronchitis. Albuterol tablet is approved to treat bronchospasm from reversible obstructive airways disease, which includes bronchitis. But albuterol tablet isn't a first-choice option because it can take 30 minutes before you notice improvements in breathing. Your healthcare professional (HCP) will likely have you try inhaled albuterol (e.g., albuterol (ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil)) first because it work quicker (within a few minutes) and tends to cause less side effects than albuterol tablet.
              Is albuterol tablet safe during pregnancy?
              While inhaled albuterol is considered safe to use during pregnancy, the safety of oral albuterol isn't completely clear. Some animal studies show babies were harmed when born to mothers exposed to oral albuterol during pregnancy. Let your prescriber know right away if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Albuterol tablet should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits are greater than the risks.
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              What are the risks and warnings for Albuterol tablet?

              Albuterol tablet 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.

              risk-warning

              Heart problems

              • Risk factors: High blood pressure | Heart failure | Heart rate or rhythm problems | Using more albuterol tablet than recommended

                Albuterol tablet can cause changes in your blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm. But this is unlikely if you're taking albuterol tablet at the recommended doses. Your prescriber might ask you to regularly check your blood pressure and heart rate at home if you have high blood pressure or other heart problems. Don't use albuterol tablet more often than prescribed. Tell your prescriber if you have dizziness, fatigue, tremor, rapid heartbeat, or weakness after you use albuterol tablet.

                risk-warning

                Breathing problems

                Although rare, albuterol tablet used to relieve bronchospasm might trigger a muscle spasm in your lungs. This 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 tablet. If you experience bronchospasm, your prescriber will ask you to stop this medication and consider other options.

                For some people, asthma can worsen over a period of hours or days. Let your healthcare team know if you feel like you need to take more doses of albuterol tablet than usual. Your prescriber can examine your lungs to see whether your treatment plan needs any changes to better control your breathing symptoms.

                risk-warning

                Allergic reactions

                Allergic reactions to albuterol tablet are possible. These reactions can include life-threatening facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Get medical attention right away if you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after you take albuterol tablet.

                dosage

                Albuterol tablet dosage forms

                tablet
                Tablet
                DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                2mg30 tablets$21.93$0.73
                4mg60 tablets$32.13$0.54

                Typical dosing for Albuterol tablet

                Albuterol tablet:

                • Ages 12 years and older: The typical starting dose is 2 mg or 4 mg by mouth three or four times a day. The maximum dose is 8 mg by mouth four times a day.

                • Ages 6 to 12 years old: The typical starting dose is 2 mg by mouth three or four times a day. The maximum daily dose is 24 mg per day, separated into smaller doses throughout the day.

                Albuterol syrup:

                Each 5 mL of syrup contains 2 mg of albuterol.

                • Ages 14 years and older: The typical starting dose is 2 mg or 4 mg by mouth three or four times a day. The maximum dose is 8 mg by mouth four times a day.

                • Ages 6 to 14 years old: The typical starting dose is 2 mg by mouth three or four times a day. The maximum daily dose is 24 mg per day, separated into smaller doses throughout the day.

                • Age 2 to under 6 years: The dose will depend on your child's weight. The typical starting dose is 0.1 mg/kg of body weight (up to 2 mg) by mouth three times a day. The maximum dose is 4 mg by mouth three times a day.

                interactions

                Interactions between Albuterol tablet and other drugs

                Albuterol tablet may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Albuterol tablet. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                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.

                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.

                alternatives

                What are alternatives to Albuterol tablet?

                There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Albuterol tablet. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                Albuterol tablet
                Used for:
                $21.93 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                Albuterol
                Used for:

                • Treatment or prevention of wheezing or tightening of airways in people ages 4 years and older with certain types of lung problems (e.g., asthma)

                • Prevention of exercise-induced asthma in people ages 4 years and older

                $39.50 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)
                Used for:

                • Treatment or prevention of wheezing or tightening of airways in people with certain types of lung problems (e.g., asthma)

                $54.99 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                latest news

                What is the latest news about Albuterol tablet?

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                References

                Best studies we found

                Almadhoun, K., et al. (2023). Bronchodilators. StatPearls.

                American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2024). Bronchospasm defined.

                Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). PROTECT your child: Use the right tool to give the right dose.

                View All References (6)

                Chartwell RX, LLC. (2023). Albuterol sulfate- albuterol sulfate syrup [package insert]. DailyMed.

                Chartwell RX LLC. (2023). Albuterol sulfate tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

                Global Initiative for Asthma. (2024). Global strategy for asthma management and prevention.

                Lurie, A., et al. (1990). Long-term management of reversible obstructive airways disease in adults. Lung.

                Shoening, S. K., et al. (2004). Management and treatment of reversible airway disease. American Journal of Managed Care.

                Volerman, A., et al. (2022). Association between dispensing of low-value oral albuterol and removal from Medicaid preferred drug lists. BioMed Central Health Services Research.

                GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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