Albuterol is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in patients with
asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases. It is also used
to prevent bronchospasm caused by exercise.
β-agonist Powder
Albuterol belongs to the family of medicines known as adrenergic
bronchodilators. Adrenergic bronchodilators are medicines that are
breathed in through the mouth to open up the bronchial tubes (air
passages) in the lungs. They relieve cough, wheezing, shortness of
breath, and troubled breathing by increasing the flow of air through the
bronchial tubes.
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your
doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction
to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care
professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods,
dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read
the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated
pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of albuterol
inhalation aerosol (eg, ProAir® HFA, Proventil® HFA) in children 4
years of age and older, albuterol inhalation powder (eg, ProAir®
Respiclick®) in children 4 years of age and older, and albuterol
inhalation solution (eg, Accuneb®) in children 2 years of age and older.
However, safety and efficacy have not been established for the
albuterol inhalation aerosol and albuterol inhalation powder in children
younger than 4 years of age, and albuterol inhalation solution in
children younger than 2 years of age.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age
to the effects of Proventil® HFA in the geriatric population. However,
elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart problems,
which may require caution in the dose for patients receiving Proventil®
HFA.
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated
geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ProAir®
HFA and ProAir® Respiclick® in geriatric patients. However, elderly
patients are more likely to have age-related heart, kidney, or liver
problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for
patients receiving ProAir® HFA and ProAir® Respiclick®.
No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of
albuterol inhalation solution (eg, Accuneb®) in geriatric patients.
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