Albuterol – A Short-Acting ß2-Adrenergic Receptor

Albuterol is used to stop and treat wheezing (inhalation difficulty and chest stiffness) caused due to lung diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many people use Albuterol inhalation aerosol in order to avoid breathing troubles during exercise.
Albuterol falls under the drug category called ‘bronchodilators’, which works by loosening up and opening airways to the lungs to make breathing process more comfortable. The various drug manufacturers promote Albuterol under different brands such as Asthavent, Asmol, Proventil, Salamol, Buventol, Sultanol, Ventolin, Volmax, Asthalin and ProAir. Albuterol became available in UK in 1969 and in US in 1980, under the trade name ‘Ventolin,’
To provide direct effect on bronchial muscle, Albuterol is normally given thru the inhaled route with the help of a metered dose inhaler (MDI), nebuliser or other proprietary delivery devices. Albuterol can also be given orally or in an intravenous manner. As a ß2-agonist, Albuterol is also helpful in obstetrics.
Albuterol is specifically recommended in situations like acute asthma, protection against exercise-induced asthma, alleviating symptoms during asthma maintenance therapy, other conditions with two-sided airways obstruction (including COPD) and hyperkalaemia. For patients with Cystic Fibrosis, Albuterol can be aerosolized with a nebulizer together with ipratropium bromide and pulmozyme.
The common fallouts that a person may experience while using Albuterol include palpitations, tachycardia, tremor, muscle cramps, headache, giddiness, agitation, hypokalemia, hyperactivity in children, nervousness, heart burning, sleeping troubles, anxiety, nausea, cough, throat irritation, chest pain, body swelling, increased difficulty while breathing and hoarseness. It’s better to consult doctor, if any of these side effects occur while taking Albuterol.
Albuterol can be used with care in patients with coronary heart problem or with cardiac rhythm disturbances. Using Albuterol along with other stimulant medicines is warned because of their joint effects on the blood pressure, heart rate and the potential for causing chest pain. Always use the prescribed dosages of Albuterol because excessive use of inhaled Albuterol can have unfavorable effects on the heart. Remember that Albuterol inhalations should be taken with proper technique otherwise it may cause serious problem.