albuterol tablets
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.
What is Albuterol tablet?
What is Albuterol tablet used for?
- Relief of bronchospasm in people ages 6 years and older with reversible obstructive airway disease, such as asthma
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.
Drug facts
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%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Feeling more hungry
- Hyperactivity
- Headache
- Sleeplessness
Albuterol tablet 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
The following Albuterol tablet 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 tablet
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
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 for Albuterol tablet
- 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.
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Common questions about Albuterol tablet
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.
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.
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.
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.
Albuterol tablet dosage
Typical dosage for 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.
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 between Albuterol tablet 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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