Can I Take Albuterol While I’m Pregnant?

If you’re pregnant, you’re well-aware that your body undergoes many changes over the span of 9 months. Some of these changes are new symptoms and experiences, and some of them are changes that affect health conditions you may already have, such as asthma.  

It’s estimated that up to 12% of women experience asthma during their pregnancy, and about 3% of pregnant women use inhalers during their pregnancy. Albuterol (ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil) is the most used asthma medication during this time. But if you’re pregnant and have asthma, you may be curious if albuterol is actually safe to take. 

Here, we’ll discuss what you should know about taking albuterol during pregnancy. We’ll also review other treatment options available.

What is albuterol?

Albuterol is a medication that’s used when a person has trouble breathing. It’s called a rescue inhaler. 

Albuterol belongs to a group of medications called short-acting beta agonists (SABAs). These medications work by relaxing muscles in your lungs, allowing you to breathe easier. It’s a common medication to have on hand for people living with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

The two types of rescue inhalers most often prescribed are albuterol and levalbuterol (Xopenex). But albuterol is more common than levalbuterol, and it comes in many forms. 

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What different types of albuterol are available?

Albuterol is available in different dosage forms. Examples include inhalers, oral tablets, and liquid solutions that you breathe in through a mask (nebulizer). Here, we’ll focus on inhalers. Inhalers release albuterol directly into your lungs.

The different albuterol inhalers available include:

• ProAir HFA

• ProAir Digihaler

• ProAir Respiclick

• Proventil HFA

• Ventolin HFA

Albuterol is also available as a generic medication. Generic albuterol inhalers can be substituted with ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, or Ventolin HFA. A generic version may be a cheaper option depending on your insurance. A GoodRx coupon may also help you receive albuterol at a lower cost. 

Is albuterol safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Albuterol is considered safe to use during pregnancy. It’s a first-choice rescue inhaler to use in pregnancy. 

Prior to its FDA approval, there weren’t any clinical studies that focused on albuterol’s use during pregnancy. But since then, data from pregnancy registries and postmarketing studies haven’t confirmed any possible links to physical birth defects. 

Plus, uncontrolled and untreated asthma symptoms in pregnancy can cause problems. If your asthma symptoms suddenly get worse, your body has less oxygen at its disposal. A lack of oxygen can cause growth and development problems in an unborn baby. Medications like albuterol can play a role in preventing these sorts of problems.

Will I need more albuterol than normal during pregnancy?

If you’re pregnant and have a history of asthma, you may wonder how pregnancy might affect your symptoms. 

In short, it depends on the person.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 in 3 women who are pregnant and have asthma will see their symptoms improve during pregnancy. And about 1 in 3 women who are pregnant and have asthma will see their symptoms worsen. The remaining women will experience no changes in their symptoms.

Like the statistics show, there’s not a consistent trend for how pregnancy affects asthma symptoms. Ultimately, the need to use more or less albuterol than normal depends on how your symptoms change during pregnancy 

How much albuterol can I take during pregnancy?

According to albuterol’s prescribing information, you should inhale 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed when you experience shortness of breath. This is about how long albuterol lasts in your body. There aren’t any recommended dosing changes for pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women.

If you need — or believe you’ll need — albuterol more than every 4 hours, it's recommended to talk to your healthcare provider. They may recommend changes in your asthma treatment regimen to help you get your symptoms under control. This is also because higher-than-recommended doses of albuterol have a higher chance of side effects. 

What are the risks of taking albuterol while pregnant?

People who are pregnant and taking high doses of albuterol may experience side effects. This includes a fast heart rate (tachycardia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), and elevated blood pressure. But at recommended doses, inhaled albuterol hasn’t been shown to raise the risk of these sorts of side effects.

Other common side effects you may experience while taking albuterol include:

• Sore throat

• Headache 

• Runny nose 

• Dizziness 

• Shakiness

Does the risk vary by trimester?

Several medications may be harmful to take during a certain trimester of your pregnancy. However, this isn’t the case with albuterol. There’s no link between the use of albuterol and an elevated risk of side effects or birth defects during any specific trimester.

Are other asthma and COPD medications safe to take during pregnancy? 

As mentioned, albuterol is a first-choice medication for pregnant women. Levalbuterol is another SABA which works like albuterol, but it’s not used in pregnancy as often as albuterol. 

Other inhalers are also available. These inhalers can help control asthma and COPD symptoms over time. They’re called maintenance inhalers — they help “maintain” your ability to breathe easier in the long run. 

For instance, budesonide (Pulmicort) is a medication that’s used if you experience frequent asthma symptoms. Budesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid medication that helps lower inflammation, allowing you to breathe easier. Inhaled steroids are appropriate to use at normal doses during pregnancy. 

Combination inhalers are also available, but they’re not always first-choice treatments for people who are pregnant. They may provide support when other asthma medications don’t help. Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) and Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) are combination inhalers used for asthma and COPD. Symbicort and Advair are used daily to help prevent and control symptoms. 

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Written by:

Abe Amos, PharmD

Abe Amos, PharmD, is a clinical advisor for health plans and has experience working with large national government-funded programs. He is a postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) managed care residency coordinator and also has community retail pharmacy experience.

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:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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