Albuterol is prescribed to prevent and treat difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightness caused by lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Albuterol is in a class of medications called bronchodilators and works by relaxing and opening air passages to the lungs to make breathing easier.¹

Albuterol comes as a solution to inhale by mouth using a special jet nebulizer that turns medication into an inhalable mist. It is usually used every four to six hours as needed. When the inhaler is used to prevent breathing difficulty during exercise, it is usually used 15 to 30 minutes before exercise.

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use albuterol exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it, or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.²

For most users, albuterol sulfate will begin to work within just a few minutes. It may take up to 15 minutes to feel the full effects.³

The effects of albuterol will last approximately four to six hours.⁴

The most common dosage recommendation for adults is two puffs every four to six hours as needed.⁵ Each inhaler is designed to provide 60 to 200 puffs depending on the size.⁶

Albuterol sulfate is available by prescription only. It is not available over the counter.⁷ Prescriptions for albuterol sulfate are available online through RedBox Rx. Start a low-cost $39 online consultation for allergies or sinus infections to see if albuterol sulfate is right for you.

With RedBox Rx, albuterol sulfate is $25 per treatment (90 mcg, 8.5 g inhaler). No insurance required. Start a low-cost online consultation for allergies or sinus infections to see if albuterol sulfate is right for you.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to albuterol, levalbuterol (Xopenex), any other medications or any of the ingredients in albuterol inhalation powder or nebulizer solution. If you will be using the inhalation powder, also tell your doctor if you are allergic to milk proteins. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and propranolol (Inderal); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics (water pills); epinephrine (EpiPen, Primatene Mist); other inhaled medications used to relax the air passages such as metaproterenol and levalbuterol (Xopenex); and medications for colds. Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline ( Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil) and trimipramine (Surmontil); and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism (condition in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the body), diabetes or seizures.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using albuterol, call your doctor.

• You should know that albuterol inhalation sometimes causes wheezing and difficulty breathing immediately after it is inhaled. If this happens, call your doctor right away. Do not use albuterol inhalation again unless your doctor tells you that you should.⁸

There is some evidence that consuming caffeine while taking albuterol could raise blood pressure to unsafe levels in some people.⁹

If you have been told to use albuterol inhalation on a regular schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one.¹⁰

Common side effects of albuterol sulfate include:¹¹ 

• Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body.

• Nervousness.

• Headache.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Cough.

• Throat irritation.

• Muscle, bone or back pain.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Keep unused vials of nebulizer solution in the foil pouch until you are ready to use them. Store the inhaler at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not puncture the aerosol canister, and do not discard it in an incinerator or fire.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them.¹²

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.¹³

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.¹⁴

Brand names for albuterol sulfate include:¹⁵

• AccuNeb®

• ProAir® HFA

• ProAir® Respiclick

• Proventil® HFA

• Ventolin® HFA

RedBox Rx also offers the following treatments for allergies:

• Azelastine Nasal Spray (Generic Astelin®)

• Fluticasone Nasal Spray (Generic Flonase®)

• Levocetirizine (Generic Xyzal®)

• Montelukast (Generic Singulair®)

• Cetirizine (Generic Zyrtec®)

RedBox Rx also offers the following treatments for sinus infections:

• Amoxicillin (Generic Amoxil®)

• Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (Generic Augmentin®)

• Azithromycin(Generic Z-Pak®)

• Cefpodoxime (Generic Vantin®)

• Dexamethasone (Generic Decadron®)

• Doxycycline (Generic Vibramycin®)

• Fluticasone Nasal Spray (Generic Flonase®)

• Guaifenesin (Generic Mucinex®)

• Levocetirizine (Generic Xyzal®)

• Levofloxacin (Generic Levaquin®)

• Saline spray for the nose

1. National Library of Medicine

2. National Library of Medicine

3. PDR

4. Drugs.com

5. Mayo Clinic

6. National Library of Medicine

7. Mayo Clinic  

8. National Library of Medicine

9. Drugs.com  

10. National Library of Medicine

11. National Library of Medicine

12. National Library of Medicine

13. National Library of Medicine

14. National Library of Medicine

15. National Library of Medicine