• Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Inhaln: Prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
• PO: Treatment of bronchospasm in asthma or COPD.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity to adrenergic amines.

Use Cautiously in:

• Cardiac disease
• Hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Seizure disorders
• Excess inhaler use may lead to tolerance and paradoxical bronchospasm
• OB: Use during pregnancy only if potential maternal benefit justifies potential fetal risk
• Lactation: Use while breastfeeding only if potential maternal benefit justifies potential risk to infant
• Pedi: Children <2 yr (safety and effectiveness not established)
• Geri: ↑ risk of adverse reactions in older adults; may require dose ↓.

CV: chest pain, palpitations, angina, arrhythmias, hypertension.

Endo: hyperglycemia.

F and E: hypokalemia.

GI: nausea, vomiting.

Neuro: nervousness, restlessness, tremor, headache, hyperactivity (children), insomnia.

Resp: PARADOXICAL BRONCHOSPASM (EXCESSIVE USE OF INHALERS).

Drug-Drug:

• Concurrent use with other adrenergic agents will have ↑ adrenergic side effects.
• Use with MAO inhibitors may lead to hypertensive crisis.
• Beta blockers may negate therapeutic effect.
• May ↓ serum digoxin levels.
• Cardiovascular effects are potentiated in patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants.
• Risk of hypokalemia ↑ concurrent use of potassium-losing diuretics.
• Hypokalemia ↑ the risk of digoxin toxicity.

Drug-Natural Products:

• Use with caffeine-containing herbs (cola nut, guarana, tea, coffee) ↑ stimulant effect.

(Generic available)

• Immediate-release tablets: 2 mg; 4 mg;
• Oral syrup (strawberry-flavored): 2 mg/5 mL;
• Inhalation solution: 0.63 mg/3 mL (0.021%); 1.25 mg/3 mL (0.042%); 2.5 mg/3 mL (0.083%); 1 mg/mL; 2 mg/mL; 5 mg/mL (0.5%);
• Metered-dose aerosol: 90 mcg/inhalation in 6.7-g, 8-g, 8.5-g, and 18-g canisters (200 metered inhalations); 100 mcg/spray;
• Powder for inhalation (Proair Digihaler and Proair Respiclick): 90 mcg/inhalation (200 metered inhalations);
• Powder for inhalation (Ventolin Diskus): 200 mcg;
• In combination with: budesonide (Airsupra); ipratropium (Combivent). See Appendix [not included in this PDA edition].

• PO (Adults and Children ≥12 yr): 2–4 mg 3–4 times daily (not to exceed 32 mg/day).
• PO (Geriatric Patients): Initial dose should not exceed 2 mg 3–4 times daily, may be ↑ carefully (up to 32 mg/day).
• PO (Children 6–12 yr): 2 mg 3–4 times daily; may be carefully ↑ as needed (not to exceed 8 mg/day).
• PO (Children 2–6 yr): 0.1 mg/kg 3 times daily (not to exceed 2 mg 3 times daily initially); may be carefully ↑ to 0.2 mg/kg 3 times daily (not to exceed 4 mg 3 times daily).
• Inhaln (Adults and Children ≥4 yr): Via metered-dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler: 2 inhalations every 4–6 hr (some patients may respond to 1 inhalation) or 2 inhalations 15 min before exercise; NIH Guidelines for acute asthma exacerbation: Children: 4–8 puffs every 20 min for 3 doses then every 1–4 hr; Adults: 4–8 puffs every 20 min for up to 4 hr then every 1–4 hr as needed.
• Inhaln (Adults and Children >12 yr): NIH Guidelines for acute asthma exacerbation via nebulization or IPPB: 2.5–5 mg every 20 min for 3 doses then 2.5–10 mg every 1–4 hr as needed; Continuous nebulization: 10–15 mg/hr.
• Inhaln (Children 2–12 yr): NIH Guidelines for acute asthma exacerbation via nebulization or IPPB: 0.15 mg/kg/dose (minimum dose 2.5 mg) every 20 min for 3 doses then 0.15–0.3 mg/kg (not to exceed 10 mg) every 1–4 hr as needed or 1.25 mg 3–4 times daily for children 10–15 kg or 2.5 mg 3–4 times daily for children >15 kg; Continuous nebulization: 0.5–3 mg/kg/hr.
• Inhaln (Neonates): 1.25 mg/dose every 8 hr via nebulization or 1–2 puffs via MDI into the ventilator circuit every 6 hrs.

Accuneb, Proair Digihaler, Proair HFA, Proair Respiclick, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, VoSpire ER

• Binds to beta₂-adrenergic receptors in airway smooth muscle, leading to activation of adenyl cyclase and increased levels of cyclic-3′, 5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Increases in cAMP activate kinases, which inhibit the phosphorylation of myosin and decrease intracellular calcium. Decreased intracellular calcium relaxes smooth muscle airways.
• Relaxation of airway smooth muscle with subsequent bronchodilation.
• Relatively selective for beta₂ (pulmonary) receptors.

• Bronchodilation.

Therapeutic Classification: bronchodilators

Pharmacologic Classification: adrenergics

Absorption: Well absorbed after oral administration but rapidly undergoes extensive metabolism.

Distribution: Small amounts appear in breast milk.

Metabolism/Excretion: Extensively metabolized by the liver and other tissues.

Half-life: Oral 2.7–5 hr; Inhalation: 3.8 hr.

Airomir, Salbutamol, Ventolin Diskus, Ventolin Nebules

(bronchodilation)

• Instruct patient to take albuterol as directed. If on a scheduled dosing regimen, take missed dose as soon as remembered, spacing remaining doses at regular intervals. Do not double doses or increase the dose or frequency of doses. Caution patient not to exceed recommended dose; may cause adverse effects, paradoxical bronchospasm (more likely with first dose from new canister), or loss of effectiveness of medication.
  • Instruct patient to contact health care professional immediately if shortness of breath is not relieved by medication or is accompanied by diaphoresis, dizziness, palpitations, or chest pain.
  • Instruct patient to prime unit with 4 sprays before using and to discard canister after 200 sprays. Actuators should not be changed among products.
  • Inform patient that these products contain hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) and the propellant and are described as non-CFC or CFC-free (contain no chlorofluorocarbons).
  • Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult health care professional before taking any OTC medications or alcoholic beverages concurrently with this therapy. Caution patient also to avoid smoking and other respiratory irritants.
  • Inform patient that albuterol may cause an unusual or bad taste.
• Advise females of reproductive potential to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding. Encourage patients who become pregnant during therapy to enroll in the pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to asthma medications during pregnancy. For more information, contact the MothersToBaby Pregnancy Studies conducted by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists at 1-877-311-8972 or visit mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/.
• Inhaln: Instruct patient in the proper use of the metered-dose inhaler or nebulizer (see Appendix F).
  • Advise patients to use albuterol first if using other inhalation medications and allow 5 min to elapse before administering other inhalant medications unless otherwise directed.
  • Advise patient to rinse mouth with water after each inhalation dose to minimize dry mouth and clean the mouthpiece with water at least once a wk.
  • Instruct patient to notify health care professional if there is no response to the usual dose or if contents of one canister are used in less than 2 wk. Asthma and treatment regimen should be re-evaluated and corticosteroids should be considered. Need for increased use to treat symptoms indicates decrease in asthma control and need to re-evaluate patient’s therapy.

al-BYOO-ter-ole