Accuneb

Albuterol is a prescription medication used to treat bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in people who have reversible obstructive airway disease. It may also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Albuterol belongs to a group of drugs called beta agonists. These cause the smooth muscle of the airways to relax, making it easier to breathe.

Albuterol comes as a tablet, a syrup, and an extended release tablet to take by mouth. The tablets and syrup are usually taken three or four times a day. The extended release tablets are usually taken once every 12 hours. 

Albuterol also comes as a solution to be inhaled into the mouth using a nebulizer and is usually used 3 or 4 times a day.

This medication also comes as aerosol to inhale by mouth using an inhaler. When the aerosol is used to treat or prevent symptoms of lung disease, it is usually used every 4 to 6 hours as needed. When the aerosol is used to prevent breathing difficulty during exercise, it is usually used 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.

Common side effects include fast heartbeat, shakiness, and nervousness.

Inhalational:

• Albuterol aerosol spray is a prescription medication used in people 4 years of age and older to:
  • treat or prevent bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in people who have reversible obstructive airway disease (asthma)
  • prevent exercise induced bronchospasm (narrowing of airways)
• Albuterol solution for nebulization is a prescription medication used for the relief of bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma

Oral:

• Albuterol immediate- and extended-release tablets are used for the relief of bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in adults and children 6 years of age and older with reversible obstructive airway disease (asthma).

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

Syrup

• Adults And Children Over 14 Years Of Age: The usual starting dosage for adults and children over 14 years of age is 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) or 4 mg (2 teaspoonfuls) three or four times a day.
• Children 6 To 14 Years Of Age: The usual starting dosage for children 6 to 14 years of age is 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) three or four times a day.
• Children 2 To 6 Years Of Age: Dosing in children 2 to 6 years of age should be initiated at 0.1 mg/kg of body weight three times a day. This starting dosage should not exceed 2 mg (1 teaspoonful) three times a day.

Aerosol

• Treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm or prevention of asthmatic symptoms
  • The usual dosage for adults and children 12 years of age and older is 2 inhalations repeated every 4 to 6 hours
  • In some, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient. More frequent use or a larger number of inhalations is not recommended.
  • For maintenance therapy or prevention of exacerbation of bronchospasm, 2 inhalations, 4 times a day should be sufficient.
  • If a previously effective dosage fails to provide the usual response, this may be a sign of worsening asthma and requires reevaluation of the treatment regimen.
• ​Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Prevention
  • ​The usual dosage for adults and children 12 years and older is 2 inhalations, 15 minutes before exercise.

Solution for Nebulization

• The usual starting dosage for patients 2 to 12 years of age is 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of AccuNeb (albuterol for nebulization) taken 3 or 4 times daily, as needed, by nebulization.
• To take 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg of albuterol, use the entire contents of one vial (3 mL of 1.25 mg or 0.63 mg inhalation solution). Adjust nebulizer flow rate to deliver AccuNeb (albuterol for nebulization) over 5 to 15 minutes.
• Patients 6 to 12 years of age with more severe asthma, weight >40 kg, or patients 11 to 12 years of age may achieve a better initial response with the 1.25 mg dose.

Extended Release Tablets

• Adults and Children over 12 years of age - The usual recommended dosage for adults and pediatric patients over 12 years of age is 8 mg every 12 hours. In some patients, 4 mg every 12 hours may be sufficient.
• Children 6 to 12 years of age - The usual recommended dosage for children 6 through 12 years of age is 4 mg every 12 hours.

Regular Release Tablets

• Adults and Children Over 12 Years of Age - The usual starting dosage for adults and children 12 years and older is 2 or 4 mg three or four times a day.
• Children 6 to 12 Years of Age - The usual starting dosage for children 6 to 12 years of age is 2 mg three or four times a day.

Inhalational/Oral:

Albuterol may cause serious side effects, including:

• worsening trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this happens stop using albuterol and call your doctor or get emergency help right away. Paradoxical bronchospasm is more likely to happen with your first use of a new canister of medicine.
• heart problems including faster heart rate and higher blood pressure
• possible death in people with asthma who use too much albuterol
• allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • itchy skin
  • swelling beneath your skin or in your throat
  • rash
  • worsening trouble breathing
• low potassium levels in your blood
• worsening of other medical problems in people who also use albuterol including increases in blood sugar

Do not use albuterol if you are allergic to albuterol sulfate or any of the ingredients in albuterol. 

Inhalational/Oral:

Albuterol may cause serious side effects. See "Albuterol Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of albuterol include:

• your heart feels like it is pounding or racing (palpitations)
• chest pain
• fast heart rate
• shakiness
• nervousness
• headache
• dizziness
• sore throat
• runny nose

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of albuterol. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Albuterol and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Albuterol may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way albuterol works.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• other inhaled medicines or asthma medicines
• beta blocker medicines
• diuretics
• digoxin
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• tricyclic antidepressants

This is not a complete list of albuterol drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Albuterol falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with albuterol. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if albuterol crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using albuterol.

If your symptoms worsen when you use an albuterol inhaler, contact your doctor right away. This may indicate either a worsening of your asthma or a reaction to the medication.

Throw away the albuterol canister after you have used the labeled number of inhalations even if it still contains some liquid and continues to release a spray when it is pressed. The spray may not contain the correct amount of medication.

Call your doctor if you feel albuterol no longer controls your symptoms.