Albuterol inhalation is the generic name with the following brand names: Accuneb, Airet, ProAir HFA, Proventil, Proventil HFA, Respirol, Ventolin, Ventolin HFA, or Ventolin Nebules.
Albuterol is a bronchodilator that relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. Basically, it helps to clear you airways to breathe easier without bronchospasm.
Albuterol inhalation is most often used to treat asthma symptoms but, it has many other purposes, one of which is the way I used it and will describe in this article.
I have Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy and doctors often use Albuterol to treat the symptoms of difficulty breathing or pneumonia, which is one of the main causes of death for people with DMD.
A study done on children with DMD and Becker’s MD by the Muscular Dystrophy Association said that, “Evidence suggests it may increase muscle protein synthesis and slow muscle protein breakdown.” Researchers found that it helped muscle strength mostly in the thigh muscles. No cardiac abnormalities or other side effects were found.
In October 1996, when I was 20, I had my first bad bout of coughing. On this particular night, I had an awful mucus plug in my esophagus that I could not cough up. I couldn’t breathe at all and I blacked out unconscious for several minutes. I required immediate CPR and I woke up to EMS and police hovering over me in my bedroom.
I was taken to the hospital and recuperated for one week. I coughed for most of the week and for the next few weeks at home.
My respiratory doctor prescribed Albuterol using a nebulizer, which is like a misting machine or humidifier. The Albuterol comes in pre-measured containers, which is poured into a compartment of the nebulizer and it is misted into a mouthpiece or face mask like those used for oxygen. You breathe slowly until you inhale all of the Albuterol treatment in about ten minutes.
Before using Albuterol, tell your doctor if you have:
any drug allergies
heart disease
high blood pressure
congestive heart failure
a heart rhythm disorder
a seizure disorder such as epilepsy
Diabetes
overactive thyroid
or are pregnant
Also before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
diuretics
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)
beta-blockers
MAO inhibitors
other bronchodilators
Minor side effects include:
headache
dizziness
nervousness
insomnia
cough
hoarseness
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
dry mouth and throat
muscle pain
diarrhea
Moderate side effects include:
allergic reaction
hives
difficulty breathing
swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
Serious side effects include:
bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing)
tremors
nervousness
high blood pressure
severe headache
blurred vision
buzzing in your ears
anxiety
confusion
chest pain
shortness of breath
uneven heartbeats
seizures
The side effects for children differ. Some include restlessness, irritability, and nervousness. The risk increases with higher doses of Albuterol. Metered dose inhalers are less likely than the oral dosage to cause side effects.
As always, other side effects may occur. You need to inform your doctor about any bothersome side effects or if it makes your condition worse.
Adult or child, if Albuterol is determined to be the cause of the negative side effects, some options to discuss with your doctor include reducing the dosage or switching to another bronchodilator, like levalbuterol (Xopenex), which causes fewer side effects for some people.
I had several minor, moderate, and serious side effects. It has been quite a while since I used Albuterol but I’ll never forget how awful I felt at the time from my coughing and how Albuterol didn’t help.
My side effect included headache, nervousness, cough, hoarseness, sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, uneven heartbeats, and more.
I feel that Albuterol made my coughing worse, without helping me clear my throat when coughing. I do not have asthma, so it probably works differently. It helps other people with muscular dystrophy and not everyone experiences negative side effects. I’m not sold on Albuterol for my disability but doctors seem to be. After I told my doctor about my symptoms, he blew it off and recommended I continue taking it. If you feel worse after taking a medicine like this and experience many of the noted side effects, stop taking it regardless of the doctor’s symptoms because it’s dangerous and doctors don’t always know what’s best for you.
I’m not saying don’t use Albuterol. If it works, that’s great. But be careful when using Albuterol, especially when giving it to children.
Sources: drugs.com, mda.org
