ProAir HFA

Proair HFA is a prescription medication used to treat bronchospasm (narrowing of airways) in people who have asthma. It may also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Albuterol, the active ingredient in Proair HFA, belongs to a group of drugs called beta agonists. These cause the smooth muscle of the airways to relax, making it easier to breathe.

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.

Proair HFA 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)

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

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.

Proair HFA 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 ProAir HFA
• 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 this medication if you are allergic to albuterol sulfate or any of the ingredients in Proair HFA. 

Proair HFA may cause serious side effects. See "Proair HFA Precautions" section.

The most common side effects 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 Proair HFA. 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.

Proair HFA and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Proair HFA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way Proair HFA 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 Proair HFA 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.

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

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

It is not known if albuterol, the active ingredient in Proair HFA, 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.