Albuterol Dosages for Kids and Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others) is a rescue inhaler that helps people with asthma breathe better, easier, and deeper. It’s also used to prevent exercise-induced asthma, a situation where people experience asthma symptoms during or after exercise.

You don’t need to take albuterol every day, but it can come in handy when you need it. It works by quickly relaxing tiny muscles in your lungs, making it easier for air to pass through. Albuterol belongs to a group of medications called short-acting beta agonists.

This commonly prescribed medication is available as several brand-name products. But it also comes as a lower-cost generic. When needed, an oral tablet form of albuterol and a liquid solution that you breathe through a nebulizer are also available.

Here, we’ll focus on albuterol inhalers and discuss common albuterol dosages for adults and kids.

What’s the typical albuterol dosage for adults?

The typical albuterol inhaler dosage for adults depends on why you’re taking it. It also depends on your response to the medication.

Asthma

The typical albuterol dosage for asthma breathing troubles is 2 inhalations by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Some people may only need one inhalation every 4 hours as needed. Most albuterol inhalers contain 90 mcg (micrograms) of medication per inhalation (actuation).

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Ideally, they should only be used occasionally to relieve asthma symptoms. Albuterol inhalers shouldn’t be taken every day or on a set schedule. If you find yourself needing to use your albuterol inhaler more often than prescribed, talk to your healthcare provider about maintenance medications to better manage your breathing.

Exercise-induced asthma 

The typical albuterol dosage for exercise-induced asthma is 2 inhalations by mouth 15 to 30 minutes before exercise. This helps prevent symptoms like chest tightness and trouble breathing so you can finish your workout.

Tips to maximize your albuterol dosage

How you prepare and use your inhaler can make a difference in how effective it is.

Albuterol inhalers come in many versions. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) contain liquid medication, while dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have powdered medication. If you’re using an albuterol MDI, you may see the abbreviation HFA on the packaging, which stands for hydrofluoroalkane. This is a propellant that pushes the liquid medication out of the inhaler as a fine mist.

If you’re using an HFA inhaler, it’s important to remember to shake it before each use to mix the propellant and medication so that you’ll get the right amount of each. You should also “prime” your inhaler before using it for the first time, if you haven’t used it for more than 2 weeks, or if you accidentally drop it. You can do this by spraying it into the air 3 to 4 times away from your face. 

For both types of inhalers, you should hold your breath for at least 10 seconds after inhaling. And you should wait at least 60 seconds between inhalations to absorb the medication better.

You should also talk to your pharmacist about how to use your albuterol inhaler. They can provide tips for setting up the device and inhaling your doses properly. Timing your inhalations with HFA inhalers can be especially tricky. Routinely cleaning your inhaler is also important.

What’s the typical albuterol dosage for children?

Children ages 4 years and older can follow the adult dosage instructions for all albuterol inhalers. Kids who are younger than this generally shouldn’t receive albuterol inhalers.

However, younger kids may still need breathing relief. Inhalers can be tough for children to use, so it’s better for children under the age of 4 to use a nebulizer instead. Albuterol inhalation solution can be inhaled through a nebulizer 3 to 4 times per day as needed. Specific doses may depend on body weight, symptom severity, and age.

Do different forms of albuterol affect my dosage?

No. Your dose should be the same regardless of which albuterol inhaler form you’re prescribed.

As mentioned, albuterol comes in two different versions. It’s available as a DPI and HFA inhaler. These products aren’t interchangeable with each other, but generic albuterol inhalers can be substituted with brand-name HFA inhalers. There currently aren’t any lower-cost generic albuterol DPIs available.

DPIs — like ProAir Digihaler and ProAir RespiClick — can be helpful for children who have difficulty using an HFA inhaler. These inhalers deliver albuterol using fine powder. In contrast, HFA inhalers like ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, and Ventolin HFA have a propellant that delivers albuterol into the lungs as a fine mist.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

No, there aren’t typically dosage adjustments with albuterol. However, there are some instances where you may want to avoid it altogether.

Frequent use of albuterol inhalers may lead to a faster heartbeat or heart palpitations. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, your healthcare provider may recommend an alternative medication that’s safer for your heart. In some cases, they may just have you monitor your heart rate more often.

And, if you take certain medications that interact with albuterol, you may need to talk with your healthcare provider about safer alternatives.

What happens if you miss a dose of albuterol?

Missing a dose of albuterol shouldn’t be an issue. It’s typically only used as needed if you have breathing troubles or want to prevent shortness of breath during exercise.

Though, there is one exception. If you realize you forgot to take your dose of albuterol before exercise, be cautious of continuing your workout. You may have a higher risk of exercise-related breathing problems.

Remember: It’s important to be prepared in the event of an asthma attack. Always keep your rescue inhaler close to you for quick access in case you need it.

What should you do if you take too much albuterol?

If you think you took too much albuterol, it’s a good idea to contact your healthcare provider as a precaution. This is because the risks of taking too much albuterol can be problematic, including experiencing a faster heartbeat, dizziness, and headache. Chest pain and seizures are possible in more extreme circumstances.

Depending on how much albuterol you took, your symptoms, and other individual factors, your provider may recommend supportive care measures to address your symptoms and get the situation under control. In some cases, your healthcare provider may ask you to go to the nearest emergency room.

How to save on albuterol

There are many ways to save on albuterol, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 75% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic albuterol’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $28.23 with a free GoodRx discount.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for an albuterol patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

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Written by:

Nikki Javit, PharmD

Nikki Javit, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist with certifications in international travel medicine, immunization delivery, and pharmacogenomics. She received her bachelor’s of science in biology from Indiana University Bloomington and her doctor of pharmacy degree from Butler University.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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