Get Informed: Albuterol
Active Ingredient(s)
Albuterol
What does it do?
This product is commonly used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease. It works by relaxing smooth muscle lining the airways.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 2:40 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Albuterol
- Proventil
- Albuterol Sulfate
- Ventolin
- Proventil HFA
- Proair HFA
- Ventolin HFA
- Albuterol HFA
- Vospire
- Accuneb
- Asmaflux
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 01 May 1981
- Est US Patients*
- 5,995,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Albuterol or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Albuterol
- Several Lots of Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 0.083% Reported Stolen
- Reminder: CFC to HFA Inhaler Transition
Albuterol Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Albuterol interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Albuterol used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 35,100 patients that use Albuterol (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | 70% | 
|
| COPD | 30% |
|
| Allergies | 7% |
|
| Other | 4% |
|
How well does Albuterol work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 35,100 users taking Albuterol (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Albuterol outweigh the bad things.
- 16%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Albuterol.
Common Side Effects of Albuterol
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 35,100 users taking Albuterol (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
38% of patients experience side-effects on Albuterol
3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Albuterol
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Tremor
-
Elevated Heart Rate
-
Palpitations
-
Restlessness
-
Sore Mouth/Throat
-
Dizziness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Altered Taste, Anxiety, Breathlessness, Cough, Drowsiness, Dry Mouth, Dryness, Fatigue, Fevers/Chills, Headache, Heartburn/Reflux, High Blood Pressure, Increased Appetite, Increased Infections, Insomnia, Loss of Appetite, Mood/Behavior Problems, Muscle Pain/Stiffness, Nausea, Numbness/Tingling, Ringing Ears, Sweating
Global Patient Feedback for Albuterol ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I'm using Pro -Air Hfa it is not the same as albuterol without the Hfa, i't makes me cough, the Inhaler of Pro- Air doesn't provide the amount that should be in the inhaler that is 200cmg, they should go back to the old inhalers, How does it effect the enviroment , when the medication goes only to the lungs and and not in the air.
thank you
ben
87 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-22 18:13:16
Question/Comment:
I spent years being treated for chronic bronchitis caused by chronic sinusitis. At least 4times a year sometimes more. I had to have some x-rays of my head and they discovered my sinus cavities on 1 side were entirely clogged up. I had surgery to remove polyps from my sinuses. When it finally "healed" they discover I had an infection that was way up in my cavities. My surgery was a year ago last January. The infection is not gone yet. After all kinds of antibiotics they did a culture and found that I had two different infections that the only thing they both reacted to was Bactrum. The infection stays in one place, they think it has built up a shield that keeps the infection from any other place since it stays in one place. The Bactrum has not wiped it out yet. I had a lot of problems with my breathing and lungs. I take advair 2 times a day, Musinex 2 times a day and it keps the mucus down and my lungs open, sometimes when my breathing gets a little hard I use the ventilin inhaler. I also rinse my sinus cavities 2 times daily with a saline rinse. which helps a lot. What I am getting at is that sometimes things aren't actually caused by what we think is causing so check out all avenues and don't give up. Since the surgery I haven't had bronchitis but twice.
Carole 67 years
68 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-08 14:45:35
Question/Comment:
I am using a nebulizer for my asthma, emphysemia, and chronic bronchitis. I was having pretty good luck with Albuterol but when they stopped making it and switched to Pro Air I couldn't get any relief at all from it. I hate having to use a nebulizer because it is so unhandy but I have to be able to breathe.It also has so many possible interactions with some of the other medicines I take. Like one of the people in some of the comments they have priced the other meds like Proventil and Ventolin so high when you are on a fixed income you can't afford it. Ins don't help with it. I think they should have found a better substitude for albuterol if it was bad for the environment. This Pro Air seems to be nothing but air and not much of that.
67 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 20:44:38
Answer/Reply:
I have had the same problem with Pro Air. Personally, I don't believe what my pharmacist said about how the FDA has determined that Albuterol is an environmental hazard. It doesn't even go in into the atmosphere. It goes directly into my lungs. She then replied, "Well, you'd be surprised how much gets into the air." That, to me, is a bunch of malarkey, and it sounded as though she was grasping at straws. I know she didn't determine the fate of Albuterol. My lawn mower does much more harm to the environment.
The Pro Air doesn't work nearly as well. I believe it's just another case of money-grubbing. I've been prescribed two meds, (Pro Air and Spiriva), and it doesn't do as well as the nebulizer. The nebulizer takes time I could be using to exercise. Incidentally, exercising does help me get the secretions up, but I feel that I need the help that the Albuterol gave me. Who makes these decicisions anyway?
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-26 06:34:30
Answer/Reply:
What Im wondering is if its so "bad" for the enviroment then whats it doing to our lungs and bodies ? A scarry thought ! Albuterol never did much for me but now it doesnt do anything at all for me ! Atrovent works really good for me you might try that it may help you to !!!
51 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-29 23:12:49
Answer/Reply:
I use a nebulizer and also use a Spiriva Handihaler for maintenance. When neede Proair works as well as if not better than the CFC inhalers used earlier.
It was not the albuteral that was the problem but the CFC propellant used to deliver it.
You are probably using Albuterol in your nebulizer. Your Dr might need to increase your dose or add another medication.
I tried using only my nebulizer for a year and the reslut was poorer breathing. I have improved my breathing with the added Spiriva.
About your insurance, if you have part D insurance and use the mail option you can sav ebundles of money plus your solution (Albuterol ) for your nebulizer is covered by part B medicare.
70 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-26 18:47:44
Question/Comment:
I've tried all of the HFA inhalers and still cannot breathe. I've been on Prednisone for 3 months and increased my nebulizer treatments. I found some web site that had alot of info about the CFC ban. If you just search savecfcinhalers , I think, you should find it.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 12:57:28
Question/Comment:
I love my ProAir inhaler! After I had chronic bronchitis and pneumonia in the winter of 2007 it damaged my lungs. I experience a lot of coughing fits and my inhaler soothes my airways so I can breathe. I would recommend this inhaler if you have controlled allergies or respiratory problems like me. I would NOT recommend it be used as a rescue inhaler though. If you are having an asthma attack you should get a nebulizer. Walgreens has a program that gets people the home nebulizers for FREE.
18 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-10 18:18:43
Answer/Reply:
Hello. I was reading your paragraph and I came to where it says that you can get a nebulizer for free at Walgreens. Now , how does that work? Because I have asthma also and was wondering. And does it come with its own carrying case also?
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-16 16:55:54
Answer/Reply:
I want to thank you for your great information about the Pro Air. My husband was prescribed this, and he is already on a nebulizer. When I use it, it greatly helps because I am not on the nebulizer I guess,and thanks for the info on the nebulizer at Walgreens.
56 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-21 22:03:13
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Patient Comments about
Albuterol