What is the most important information I should know about albuterol inhalation?
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
What is albuterol inhalation?
Albuterol inhalation is a bronchodilator that is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. Albuterol is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Albuterol inhalation is for use in adults and children who are at least 4 years old.
Albuterol inhalation may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using albuterol inhalation?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to albuterol. You should not use ProAir RespiClick if you are allergic to milk proteins.
Albuterol inhalation is not approved for use by anyone younger than 4 years old.
Albuterol may increase the risk of death or hospitalization in people with asthma, but the risk in people with obstructive airway disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not known.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure;
- a thyroid disorder;
- seizures;
- diabetes; or
- low levels of potassium in your blood.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of albuterol on the baby.
How should I use albuterol inhalation?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
Do not allow a young child to use albuterol inhalation without help from an adult.
To prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm, use this medicine 15 to 30 minutes before you exercise. The effects of albuterol inhalation should last about 4 to 6 hours.
Seek medical attention if your breathing problems get worse quickly, or if you think your asthma medications are not working as well.
Do not try to clean or take apart the ProAir RespiClick inhaler device.
Always use the new inhaler device provided with your refill. Do not float a medicine canister in water to see if it is empty.
Your dose needs may change due to surgery, illness, stress, or a recent asthma attack. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, or cold temperatures.
Keep the cover on your ProAir RespiClick inhaler when not in use. Store Proventil or Ventolin with the mouthpiece down.
Keep the inhaler canister away from open flame or high heat. The canister may explode if it gets too hot. Do not puncture or burn an empty inhaler canister.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of albuterol can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, tremors, chest pain, fast heartbeats, nausea, general ill feeling, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed or fainting.
What should I avoid while using albuterol inhalation?
Rinse with water if this medicine gets in your eyes.
What are the possible side effects of albuterol inhalation?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine;
- chest pain, fast heart rate, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
- severe headache, pounding in your neck or ears;
- pain or burning when you urinate;
-
high blood sugar --increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor; or
-
low potassium --leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.
Common side effects may include:
- chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats;
- dizziness;
- feeling shaky or nervous;
- headache, back pain, body aches;
- upset stomach; or
- sore throat, sinus pain, runny or stuffy nose.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect albuterol inhalation?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- any other inhaled medicines or bronchodilators;
- digoxin;
- a diuretic or "water pill";
-
an antidepressant --amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, doxepin, nortriptyline, and others;
-
a beta blocker --atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others; or
-
an MAO inhibitor --isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect albuterol inhalation, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about albuterol inhalation.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.03. Revision date: 3/15/2019.
