Bronchodilator: Short-Acting Beta2-Agonist

What are other names for this medication?

Some other names for this medicine are albuterol, pirbuterol, and levalbuterol. Some product names include: Proventil, Proventil HFA, Ventolin, Maxair, Maxair Autohaler and Xopenex.

Combivent is an metered-dose inhaler that contains both albuterol and ipratropium bromide.

See also Bronchodilators, short-acting anticholinergic

What does this drug do?

This drug is a quick-relief medicine that works fast to relax the muscles of the airways and decrease the amount of mucus produced. It can also prevent the tightening of the muscles around the airways (bronchospasm) caused by asthma triggers such as pollens, exercise, cold air, and air pollutants.

This medicine should be used to treat acute asthma attacks.

How is it taken?

This medication can be inhaled as a fine mist from a nebulizer or from a metered-dose inhaler (MDI). Another option is the Maxair Autohaler that automatically sprays the medicine when your child inhales through the mouthpiece. There is also a dry powder device (Ventolin Rotocaps) that your child can use.

What is the usual dose?

Nebulizer: The most common nebulizer dose is 1.25 to 2.5 mg (0.25 to 0.5 ml) mixed with 2 ml of saline (salt water). Albuterol can also be mixed in 2 ml of cromolyn instead of saline for use in the nebulizer. Levalbuterol (Xopenex) comes in premixed vials. The suggested dose is 0.63 or 0.125 mg in 3 ml of saline.

MDI: The most common dose for an MDI is 2 puffs, which should be repeated no more often than every 4 hours without approval from your child's health care provider. Call your health care provider if your child needs a dose more than every 4 hours. It is best to use a spacer or holding chamber with the MDI so more medicine reaches the lungs.

Your prescribed dose of inhaled _____________________ is _______ ml mixed with ______________ and given by nebulizer ____ times a day (about every __________hours) for _______days.

OR

______ puffs of ____________________ inhaled from an MDI ____ times a day (about every ________hours).

What side effects can this drug cause?

The most common side effects are jitteriness and an increased heart rate.

What special instructions should be followed?

Do not increase the number of treatments to greater than ________ within a 24-hour period without checking with your doctor. If it seems like your child needs more treatments because the asthma symptoms are not helped by the medicine, call your doctor.