Pirbuterol

Pirbuterol is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent asthma attacks. It is also used to treat bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) caused by chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. Pirbuterol belongs to a group of drugs called beta agonists, or bronchodilators, which cause the smooth muscle of the airways to relax, making it easier to breathe.

Pirbuterol comes in a special inhaler for oral (by mouth) inhalation. As you inhale through the inhaler mouthpiece, the medication is released into the lungs. It is usually taken as 1 to 2 puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed to relieve symptoms or every 4 to 6 hours to prevent symptoms.

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

Pirbuterol is a prescription medication used to prevent and treat bronchospasm in patients 12 years of age and older with reversible bronchospasm including asthma. It may be used in combination with other medications.

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

Take pirbuterol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.

The usual dose for adults and children 12 years and older is two inhalations (400 mcg) repeated every 4-6 hours. One inhalation (200 mcg) repeated every 4-6 hours may be sufficient for some patients.

A total daily dose of 12 inhalations should not be exceeded.

Do not increase your dose or take extra doses of pirbuterol without first talking to your doctor.

Pirbuterol may cause serious side effects, including:

• worsening trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing (paradoxical bronchospasm). If this happens stop using pirbuterol 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 pirbuterol
• worsening of other medical problems in people who also use pirbuterol including increases in blood sugar

Do not use pirbuterol if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in it. 

Pirbuterol may cause serious side effects. See "Drug Precautions" section.

The most common side effects include:

• your heart feels like it is pounding or racing (palpitations)
• shakiness
• nervousness
• headache
• dizziness
• cough
• nausea

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 pirbuterol. 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.

Pirbuterol and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. 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 pirbuterol 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.

Pirbuterol falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with pirbuterol. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given pirbuterol, 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 pirbuterol 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 pirbuterol.