What is Albuterol:
Albuterol is a medicine that is used for the relief of bronchospasms caused by asthma in children ages 2 to 12 years. Bronchospasm is the tightening and swelling of the muscles around the airways. Albuterol can help relax these airway muscles for up to 6 hours so that your child may breathe more easily.
Who should not use Albuterol:
Do not give your child Albuterol if he or she is allergic to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is albuterol sulfate. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.
What should I tell my child's doctor before giving Albuterol:
Tell your child's doctor about all of your child's medical conditions including if your child has:
High blood pressure
A thyroid problem called hyperthyroidism
Tell your child's doctor about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Albuterol and some other medicines can affect each other and may cause serious side effects. Especially tell your child's doctor if your child is taking or using:
Any short-acting bronchodilator medicines (sometimes called rescue inhalers)
Medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or tricyclic anti-depressants or has stopped taking them in the past 2 weeks. These medicines are usually used for mental problems.
Medicines called beta-blockers (used for heart problems and high blood pressure)
Certain diuretic medicines (water pills)
Know the medicines your child takes. Keep a list of them and show it to your child's doctor and pharmacist each time your child gets a new medicine.
How should Albuterol be given:
Read the Patient's Instructions for Use that comes with Albuterol. Ask your pharmacist for these instructions if they are not with Albuterol. Keep the instructions with Albuterol because you may want to read them again.
Give Albuterol exactly as prescribed for your child. Do not change your child's dose or how often it is used without talking to your child's doctor first.
Albuterol is breathed into the lungs. Albuterol is used with a special breathing machine called a nebulizer. Do not mix other medicines with Albuterol in the nebulizer. Do not use Albuterol that is not clear and colorless.
Call your child's doctor or get emergency help right away if your child's breathing is not helped or gets worse during treatment with Albuterol.
Call your child's doctor right away if your child needs to use Albuterol more often than prescribed.
Albuterol has not been studied for treating acute attacks of bronchospasm (rescue use). Your child may need a different medicine for rescue use.
If you give your child too much Albuterol, call your child's doctor right away.
What are the side effects with Albuterol:
Albuterol may cause the following serious side effects:
Worsening of the tightening and swelling of the muscles around your child's airways (bronchospasm). This side effect can be life threatening. Call your child's doctor or get emergency help right away if your child's breathing is not helped or gets worse during treatment with Albuterol.
Serious and life threatening allergic reactions. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include:
Swelling of your child's face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat, and trouble swallowing
Worsening of your child's breathing problems such as wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath
Shock (loss of blood pressure and consciousness).
The most common side effects with Albuterol include a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, shakiness, or nervousness.
How should Albuterol be stored:
Store Albuterol at room temperature, 36* to 77*F (2* to 25*C) in its tightly closed container.
Protect vials from light before use. Therefore, keep unused vials in the foil pouch or carton. Once removed from the foil pouch, use vial(s) within one week.
Do not use Albuterol after the expiration (EXP) date printed on the vial. Do not use Albuterol that is not clear and colorless.
Safely, discard Albuterol that is out-of-date or no longer needed.
Keep Albuterol and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General Information about Albuterol
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in the patient information leaflets. Do not use Albuterol for a condition for which Albuterol was not prescribed. Do not give Albuterol to other people, even if they have the same symptoms your child has. Albuterol may harm them.