Find Using Albuterol Inhaler

Using Albuterol Inhaler

Top Questions and Answers

Would using an albuterol inhaler cause you to become depend on it, and thus weak without it? I've been sick for about five days now. I'm asthmatic, but I haven't used an inhaler for nearly half a year now, and when I last used it I was sick again. I'm afraid, as I'm very active during the school year, and would using it make me less able to participate in activities which require endurance. Cross-country, track, basketball, and regular gym like swimming. Thank you.

Lashenova replied: "You don't become addicted to it. A lot of people who don't have asthma use on for about a week when they get bronchitis and never use it again. Use your inhaler, and you will feel better."

Maddy A replied: "no, the only ones i hear are like that are the advair ones (purple disc) because it's not fast-acting, but i use albuterol and it works fine for me. i'm sick too, and the inhaler is saving me a trip to the ER. hope this helps!"

Dark Angel replied: "No sweetie they are not addicting but for me i depend on it as i cannot breath good when walking so i have to stop and get a couple puffs.If you need it you should be using it as all it does is open the airwaves a bit to help the air get in when were getting winded or out of breath badly....."

Beth C replied: "You will not be addicted to it, but you may have better breathing and like the feeling! Albuterol relaxes the airways so the air can actually get thru (what a great idea!)."

Jittery trembles after using an Albuterol Inhaler? I was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this week and was given an inhaler to help me breathe. I've never used an inhaler before and have noticed that I get the jittery trembles about 10 minutes after using it. The jitters feel like a serious overdose of caffeine & last for about an hour. Is this normal?

hsc16354 replied: "NO this is not normal. call your doctor and have him prescribe someting else for you"

hamrrfan replied: "It is a very common side effect of albuterol. Albuterol is related to adrenalin, as is caffeine. Note warning below about rapid heart rate and chest pain. "SIDE EFFECTS: Tremor, nervousness, shakiness, headache, nausea, lightheadedness, difficulty sleeping, unusual taste in mouth, increased appetite, muscle cramps, flushing, or dry throat may occur the first several days as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects continue or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you develop: a rapid heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, coughing, wheezing. In the unlikely event you have a serious allergic reaction to this drug, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist." If you are not sure, check with your pharmacist or doctor. I am an RN."

Heather J replied: "I have albuterol inhaler and when i do mine it makes me jittery like that. So im thinking its just the stuff in it. Ive had that sort of inhaler for along while and it always does that to me."

Are there any dangers from using an expired Albuterol inhaler? i just noticed that my girlfriend's albuterol inhalers that she takes as a preventer prior to exercise has expired. one expired on 3/07, another on 1/08. her doctor is on vacation for the next two weeks, so we're unable to ask for any refills until the doctor gets back. does anyone know if there is any danger involved in using an expired albuterol inhaler? will it still work?

La Comtesse De Whippet replied: "Mainly, it might not be as effective as it ought to be - which can be dangerous for your girlfriend if she needs her medication and finds it doesn't work. Things like pre ion refills, especially for repeat meds, can usually be filled out by an alternative doctor - the surgery will have another doctor covering all the patients of the absent doctor, so best advice is to contact the surgery and get some new albuterol."

Ozark Butterfly replied: "The danger in using it is, it might not work as well. I would be more concerned aobut the one that exp on 3/07. I would toss that one out but I think the other one would be okay. All 3 of my daughters use either Albuterol inhalers or nebulizer with Albuterol. We always have a lot on hand and I have used meds that have expired. The first time was by accident. I didn't notice it until I was giving my daughter a treatment and I called her doctor right away. He said there was nothing to really worry about, that sometimes the meds weaken after they have been expired a long time but he didn;t say what a "long time" was. Since we have so much on hand, I try to keep track of when everything expires so it doesn;t happen but if I have a dose or two that just expired, I use it and have never had a problem."

mkayed replied: "Im in nursing school and from what I understand is the medicines lose there effectiveness after the exp date. I believe the asthma inhaler will be ok for two more weeks, but if she has had asthma for a while then contact her doctor and ask to speak with the physician covering the practice. They will be able to order a refill. The only danger I know of is if it will not be effective enough."

MARY S replied: "get a REFILL DUNT PLAY AROUND WITH HER HEALTH! CALL THE CLINIC NOW DUNT WAIT TILL TOMORROW"

Dangers from using an expired Albuterol inhaler? pired. one expired on 3/07, another on 1/08. her doctor is on vacation for the next two weeks, so we're unable to ask for any refills until the doctor gets back. does anyone know if there is any danger involved in using an expired albuterol inhaler? will it still work?

Christina replied: "I've used an expired inhaler, and I'm fine."

Connie W replied: "There is no danger other than it might have lost some of it's effectiveness which could be a problem if you are having severe asthma symptoms."

tata replied: "dont think it would b dangerous....may b weak.or no good at all...if u have had an ongoing pre ion fo this inhaler...call your pharmacist and explain...i have had simular situtions and my pharmacist would fill my next and just deduct off the next...they may woul work something out since the kind of drug it is..."

K-mar04 replied: "I've used a way-expired inhaler and never had any problems. It is just advised that you have a recent one just in case you have a severe attack and the old ones don't function as well. I wouldn't worry too much. If I were you, however, I would look into buying a new one for emergencies."

Using an albuterol inhaler more than 3 times? I am asthmatic, and I have always had a question about the dosage. I've been told numerous times that I can only use my inhaler up to three times a day as necessary. I was told once that if I've used my inhaler three times already and i have an attack, that I'm not allowed to take the fourth no matter what. Could someone enlighten me as to why this is? And what are the consequences of using it more than thrice in 24 hours? Yah, it might also have to do with the dosage. I guess the turning blue of your hands and trembling are definitely side-effects, thanks pzratnog. It is a steroid after all, and overdoses could be a problem. And more details... It was a nurse at some place I went to who told me only that if I was having an attack, I can't have a fourth set of puffs. I bet that if I was having a bad attack it would be OK, but that's why I'm asking here.

pzratnog replied: "I dunno, I'm glad you told this though, I used it three times in 5 hrs. Once when I used too much, my hands turned a little blue, and I got the trembles"

*cari* replied: "I was told by one doctor I could use it four times daily, and another said six. Maybe it has to do with how it accelerates the heart rate, why it should only be used three? I haven't needed to use it more than once or twice in a long time, and rarely use it now. Guess that's a good thing, eh?"

mouse3801 replied: "who ever told you not to use your inhaler even if your haveing an attack needs there butts kicked. if your haveing an attack, that inhaler will probably save your life."

something_for_nothing replied: "I have had asthma for 20 years so I have a little experience. Your albuterol inhaler is considered a "rescue" inhaler so theoretically, it is only supposed to be used in the case of a breathing emergency. That being said, if for some reason you have used your inhaler 3 times in one day and need to use it a fourth, you can. You won't expire. But that is telling you that your asthma is not controlled and you better get to your doctor. You are not supposed to need your rescue inhaler more than 3 times in a week and that's even considered too much. You may have to use a maintenance drug like Advair to keep your asthma controlled. One of the reasons you don't want to be taking it two or three times a day is because your body can become immune to its medical benefits. I have had asthma so bad that I emptied an entire inhaler in a week. By the middle of the week the inhaler wasn't even providing me with relief. So the basic message here is if you're using it every day, tell your doctor. If they don't think that's a big deal, get a second opinion! I hope this helped."

byron101540 replied: "I am begining to think that the Bronchial chemical business is about the same as garden fertilizer business, They recommend about 4 times more than you actually need. I have been thru Ablbuterol, Atrovent, Combivent, Flovent, Abuterol HFA, Albuterol Neb, Foridill and Xopenex so far. With each one I had the "Side effects" listed in the "OVERDOSE " specifactions IE my last one was Xopenex, My Dr said 2 puffs every 6 hours 3x daily , That worked for about 2 weeks, Then I had high blood pressure, low blood pressure and irregular hear beat I "bitched" and was told to stay with it. I found a later study that a Pulmanologist in SLC Utah, plased 100 patients on 1/3 the recommened dose 95% had better results I went to 1 puff a day of xopenex and have better results At 2 puffs every 4 hours of albuterol (Or a neb treatment every 4 hours) I had over 10 differrent side effects, My DR wouldn't take me off albuterol till I complained about being shaky Heres hoping you have a better Doc than I do The last time I went to the hosp for SOB The ambulance gave me 2 doses of albuterol the ER gave me 3 more doses plus I had one at home before the amulance got there. The next time I had SOB I gave myself 1.5 doses of albuterol and stayed home."

hot_babe_4_u_2_hold replied: "I was in your position about 9 months ago... i was always using my inhaler... and getting attacks all the time. I talked to my doctor who prescribed me two different meds. One was advair. This one you take one in the morning and one at night it helps prolong your attacks. The second was Singular... Since i have been taking these i have had fewer attacks. You might just wanna ask your doctor about these... The more you use your inhaler the more your body is immune to it. this is what i've been told. So you should definately talk to your doctor about other methods as well as your inhaler."

lakelivingwl@sbcglobal.net replied: "albuterol is also a rescue drug.....it might be in your best interest to use an aerochamber----this will help with placement of medicine. if your short of breath and anxious your not going to be able to get all the medicine in your lungs, it goes in the back of your throat. there are side effects using the drug, headache, upset stomach, increased heart rate. you can use this inhaler more than 3 times. but let me say once again if the medicine is not going into the lungs you won't get any relief....use an aerochamber, these need to be keep clean. after several uses there will be a residual of medicines and moisture. take apart wash with warm soapy water, rinse will, let air dry and put back together. using this will make a big difference. signed RRT."

Has anyone had bad headaches after using albuterol inhalers and primatene mist? I found that I get bad headaches even when sniffing the tiniest amount of albuterol or primatene mist. They start maybe 4 to 12 hours after I spray.

payasitabebe replied: "My mom used to experience the same, she was told that the medicine was to strong for her body. In my case I don't use any of those strong chemicals but if I smell them I get a headache and nausea because I have a chemical sensitivities."

Using an Albuterol inhaler w/bronchitis... how often is "too often"? I've got an Albuterol inhaler I was prescribed last spring to help me deal with seasonal allergy related breathing issues, and this past week, have been using it to deal with shortness of breath stemming from a sinus infection/ bronchitis. About once an hour or so I find myself having a hard time getting what I'd consider a "good" breath... I inhale, but find that even at my maximum lung capacity (for the time being, it's usually much better when I'm not ill) that I need to try to take another deep breath to feel like I've gotten enough. I'm not sure if using my inhaler once an hour or so (two puffs each use) is too much? I don't feel shaky or anything (like I used to with nebulizer treatments as a child) but I thought I'd ask others' opinion on what is within the range of "normal" usage. Thanks in advance for taking the time to look at and answer my question!

Hope replied: "I use alburerol. My doctor prescribed for COPD and emphysema. I take 2 puffs 4 times daily. I too was having problems. My doctor said that he did not want to incresae the dosage. He said I should use Mucinex. It is an expectorant. It can be purchased over the counter and has helped me immensely My very best to you, Hope"

Can using an albuterol inhaler swell you up after using it for about 3 years? I am trying to loose some weight and someone told me that my inhaler would make me stay bloated..it is a steroid..

ROSEY replied: "albuterol is a steroid and steroids bloat people.."

Almost fainting from using albuterol inhaler... WHY? I've been very very very sick for the last 2 weeks with either bronchitis or pneumonia, and therefore I've had to go back to using my inhaler. So the problem is that lately when I use it, I get extremely lightheaded on the verge of passing out... At work a couple days ago I went completely blind for about 10 seconds. And last night was a very scary experience, and I'll describe most of what happened: - first it was the most intense headrush I've ever felt (very warm) - I felt extremely weak/slow - vision: almost lost it momentarily, got very blurry and still is, for the next 2 hours everything was fuzzy and kinda like "TV snow" - had a very strange pain in my neck and upper back - after laying down to return blood to my head, my face and neck were very red and warm (warm to touch and warm sensations) - I was dizzy, confused, very "out of it", couldn't talk intelligently, etc. If this a few mins I wouldn't be concerned, but these all lasted for 2-3 hours until I went to sleep. And this morning it's still somewhat the same, I can't see very clearly and I feel like a zombie. Other info: - I haven't been overusing the inhaler - Medications: Adderall 40mg/day, +cold medicines (dayquil, tylenol, etc.), multi vitamins, B vitamin complex, marijuana (I use it instead of sleeping pills), and I had consumed "magic" mushrooms 2 days prior to this incident. - Medical problems: diagnosed sleep apnea, hypoglycemia (I've been controlling it), and an undiagnosed illness; probably a thyroid issue although the doctors haven't come to a conclusion yet. - Yesterday when this happened I hadn't eaten in about 12 hours (I was actually using the inhaler right before going to make dinner), and I had walked 3-4 miles earlier, also sat in the cold for about 2 hours... obviously I wasn't in the best of shape but still this kinda scared me. I'm also going to assume my blood sugar was very low since I didn't have any food for 12 hours and no sugary drinks for about 8 hours. And that could probably contribute to this but I can't help thinking there's some underlying reason. I dunno............

my_water_diet replied: "I'm on the same inhaler. you have another underlying issue. have you been exposed to a infection of the breathing track or a flu bug. sounds like it from what you wrote. you also get light headed where else normal lung people don't so this is your lungs problem in the combination of this other condition. can you eat regularly. I mean so your blood sugar is normal. or take 1000 mg of vitamin C and the special zinc lozenges. they can help but you may be in for the need of antibiotics. my husband just had a bad case and his first. he got a new job at the airport in hard hit michigan. he used to design cad eng for new constructions now he goes outside doing maintenance help work. and he got sick as all the guys do. he had to be on antibiotic."

How many puffs Per Day of an Albuterol Inhaler for Asthma Is Too Much? My girlfriend has to use an albuterol inhaler to help with her asthma but I am afraid she may be using it too often. Im about to buy her the third 200 puff inhaler of this month. That means 600 puffs in 31 days. That works out to 19 or 20 puffs a day and I am afraid it's too much. Should I be worried? Is it too much?

Menthoids replied: "An albuterol inhaler is a short-acting beta-agonist that works as a bronchodilator. These medications improve asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscles in the airways that tighten during an asthma attack. You can normally use 2 puffs every 4 hours (12 puffs a day) as needed to relieve asthma symptoms. So here's the thing: Short-acting albuterol should not be used regularly for the control of asthma in people who: * Awake from cough more than 2 nights per month * Use a rescue inhaler more than twice per week * Have asthma symptoms more than twice per week * Have symptoms that interfere with their daily activities Using too much albuterol will give one the shakes so it's easy to see if she is 'overdosing' however if she is needing this much reliever, she should really be assessed by her doctor as she may need a short course of a more potent drug or may need a better combination of preventer and reliever. If she is not taking a preventer, this may also need addressing. Cheers"

atlanta sedeno replied: "Albuterol is a fast-acting bronchodilator intended for as-needed/short-term treatment of asthma. It is a 2-receptor agonist and works by relaxing the muscles in the airways. However, this drug also has an effect on other muscles in the body, including the heart. Overuse of this drug - meaning anything over the doctor's prescribing instructions - can result in cardiac abnormalities, including arrhythmias, flushing, and heart palpitations. The likelihood and extent of these side effects occurring depends on your girlfriend's health - does she have high blood pressure, diabetes, is she overweight, etc. Most importantly, if she is needing to use her albuterol this often, she should see a doctor and get a pre ion for a corticosteroid medication. These medications reduce swelling and inflammation in the airways, which will definitely help with cough/wheezing. Prednisone and Medrol are commonly prescribed steroid tablets that will immediately begin reducing inflammation. Flovent is an inhaled medication intended for the management of asthma (will reduce the need for albuterol in the long run)."

Mathieu replied: "That is FAR too much. The proper official dose is 1-2 puffs every 4-6hrs as needed The maximum is 12 puffs/day. Albuterol (aka salbutamol) is a short acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist used as a rescue inhaler. Although it sounds unlikely, using that much albuterol can land people in hospital. Albuterol is not a toy. She is obviously taking too much because no doctor would write for 20 puffs/day. For the most part, a doctor would say that it is fine to use a rescue inhaler a few times a week and at most one time per day. If a person needs to take more (except in very acute situations) they need to be on a controller inhaler like Flovent. It contains the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate and tends to work very well. If that is not enough, something like Advair, a combination long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (salmeterol) and the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate found in Flovent. The long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists like salmeterol in Advair have higher risks of serious side effects so it is best to start with a drug like Flovent which only has the corticosteroid. They are both good drugs and both are safe but Flovent is good to start with. Simply put, you should be worried, it is far too much, and she needs to stop."

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