Wasatch.edu

Albuterol (Proair HFA® Proventil HFA®, Ventolin®, Ventolin HFA®) Albuterol and Levalbuterol:
• Help to stop asthma attacks and sometimes prevent asthma attacks. • Albuterol comes in inhalers, nebulizer solutions, pills and liquids. • Levalbuterol comes in inhalers and nebulizer solutions. Using an inhaler is the most common way to take Albuterol and Levalbuterol. The inhaler works the fastest and has the fewest of side effects. These medicines can also be given with a nebulizer machine. The nebulized albuterol and levalbuterol are fast acting. They are usually given this way for very bad asthma attacks or for those people who do not get enough help from using the Albuterol and Levalbuterol should be used to:
• Prevent an asthma attack that is caused by exercise or other triggers. • When should I take it?
• Your prescription will tell you how much medicine to take and when you should take • Generally, you should use your albuterol or levalbuterol when you have asthma • If you always get asthma symptoms when you exercise, you should also use your albuterol or levalbuterol 15 minutes before you start. • Sometimes your doctor may have you use your albuterol or levalbuterol on a regular schedule to prevent your asthma symptoms. • Be sure you always have your albuterol or levalbuterol inhaler with you. Albuterol and levalbuterol have many different uses—your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will help you understand the best way to use them. Side effects
Common side effects of albuterol and levalbuterol are: Usually these side effects last only a short time after using albuterol or levalbuterol (10-30 minutes) and are less common with an inhaler. The side effects are also more common with higher doses. Serious side effects are rare, but you should call your doctor if you: You should also call your doctor or go to the emergency room if your asthma
symptoms continue to worsen after you have taken your albuterol.
Special instructions
Bronchodilators like albuterol and levalbuterol are great at stopping asthma attacks but they DO NOT reduce the inflammation and swelling in your airways.
When you have to use albuterol or levalbuterol a lot for asthma symptoms (more than 3 to 4 times a day), this means that the swelling in your airways is getting worse. You may need another kind of asthma medicine (an anti-inflammatory) to better treat your Be sure you always have your albuterol or levalbuterol inhaler with you. You
should keep track of how many puffs you have used so you will know when the Each albuterol or levalbuterol inhaler has 200 puffs—if you use fewer than 8 puffs a day, each inhaler should last at least one month. You may want to write the date when you opened the inhaler on your calendar or on the outside of the inhaler. This will help you to know when you may need to refill your medication.

Source: http://www.wasatch.edu/cms/lib/UT01000315/Centricity/Domain/38/alberterol_levalbuterol_english.pdf