Albuterol: Treatment for Asthma and COPD

A medication that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. It is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm in people with reversible obstructive airway disease.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available by prescription in the form of inhalers or nebulizer solutions
Applicable for
Salbutamol
Acts on beta-2 receptors in the lungs to relax muscles and open airways
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Dr. Helena Rodriguez

Albuterol FAQ


Image credit: emsstuff.com

Is albuterol a bronchodilator?

This drug is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, which is tightening and swelling of the muscles around the airways. It’s used in people with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease). It’s also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. Albuterol belongs to a class of drugs called beta2-adrenergic agonist bronchodilators.

What information should I know about albuterol?

What other information should I know? Why is this medication prescribed? Albuterol is used 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; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways).

Is albuterol a prescription drug?

Albuterol is a prescription drug. It’s available as an inhalation suspension, nebulizer solution, inhalation powder, immediate-release tablet, extended-release tablet, or oral syrup. Albuterol inhalation suspension is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drugs ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, and Proventil HFA.

What is salbutamol (albuterol) used for?

Salbutamol (albuterol) is a medication used to relax and open up your airways. It is used to relieve wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and breathlessness in people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Salbutamol is a fast-acting bronchodilator and reliever medication.

What is albuterol a bronchodilator?

Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. Albuterol inhalation is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm, or narrowing of the airways in the lungs, in people with asthma or certain types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Who should take albuterol solution for oral inhalation?

Albuterol solution for oral inhalation is used in adults and children 2 years of age and older. Albuterol is in a class of medications called bronchodilators. It works by relaxing and opening air passages to the lungs to make breathing easier. How should this medicine be used?

Albuterol References

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