Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS: Albuterol dilates the
airways of the lung and is used for treating asthma and other conditions of the
lung. Asthma is a breathing problem due to widespread narrowing of the airways
(bronchial tubes). Airways are the breathing passages that allow air to move in
and out of the lungs. These airways
can be narrowed due to the accumulation of mucus, spasm of the muscles that
surround these airways (bronchospasm), or swelling of the lining of the airways.
Airway narrowing leads to shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and
congestion. Albuterol dilates bronchial airways by relaxing the muscles that
surround the airways. Albuterol also can be helpful in patients with emphysema
and chronic bronchitis when symptoms are partially related to spasm of the
airways' muscles. The FDA approved albuterol in May 1982.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Inhalation aerosol: 80 and 200 inhalations; Inhalation
solution: 0.63, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/3 ml, also 5 mg/ml; Syrup: 2 mg/5 ml; Tablets:
2, 4, and 8 mg
STORAGE: Albuterol should be stored at room temperature, 59-86 F
(15-30 C). The canister should be kept away from heat or flame and not
punctured.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Albuterol is used
for relief and prevention of airway obstruction (bronchospasm) in patients with asthma or exercise-induced asthma.
Albuterol is also used for treating patients with emphysema or chronic
bronchitis when their symptoms are related to reversible airway obstruction. The
inhaled form of albuterol starts working within 15 minutes and can last up to 6
hours.
DOSING: The usual dose for prevention of bronchospasm is 1-2
inhalations every 4-6 hours by aerosol. The dose for exercise induced
bronchospasm is 2 inhalations 15 minutes prior to exercise. The usual nebulizer
dose is 0.63 mg, 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg 3-4 times a day. The recommended dosing for
tablets or syrup is 2 or 4 mg given 3 or 4 times daily and the dose of extended
release tablets is 4 or 8 mg every 12 hours.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tricyclic antidepressants [for example, amitriptyline
(Elavil, Endep),
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (for example, tranylcypromine) should not be combined with
albuterol because of their additive effects on the vascular system (increased
blood pressure, heart rate, etc.). A period of two weeks should elapse between
treatment with albuterol and tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase
inhibitors.
Use of albuterol with other stimulant medications is
discouraged because of their combined effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and
the potential for causing chest pain in patients with underlying
coronary heart
disease.
Beta-blockers [for
example, propranolol (Inderal,
Inderal LA) block the effect of
albuterol and may induce bronchospasm in asthmatics. Albuterol may cause
hypokalemia (low potassium).
Therefore, combining albuterol with loop diuretics [for example,
furosemide (Lasix)] may
increase the likelihood of hypokalemia.
Bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system in which the bronchial passages become inflamed. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include frequent cough with mucus, lack of energy, wheezing, and possible fever. Treatment may require medication such as bronchial inhalers and predinsone. Supportive treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms with fever reducers, cough suppressants, and rest. Treatment may be more aggressive in patients with pre-existing conditions such as empyema, COPD, or cigarette smoking.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a disorder that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow. COPD mainly involves three related conditions, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include chronic cough, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, wheezing, morning headaches, and pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of COPD is focused on the related condition(s).
Asthma is a common disorder in which
chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness,
cough and wheezing.
Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs. The primary cause of emphysema is smoking. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is a rare disorder that has a genetic predisposition to emphysema. Aging, IV drug use, immune deficiencies, and connect tissue illnesses are also risk factors for emphysema. Emphysema is a subtype of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COLD). Symptoms include shortness of breath and wheezing. Management of symptoms may be achieved with medications, quitting smoking, pulmonary rehabilitation, or surgery.
Chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs daily with production of sputum that lasts for at least three months, two years in a row. Causes of chronic bronchitis include cigarette smoking, inhaled irritants, and underlying disease processes (such as asthma, or congestive heart failure). Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Treatments include bronchodilators and steroids. Complications of chronic bronchitis include COPD and emphysema.
Bronchiectasis is a condition in which the bronchial tubes of the lung become damaged. Inflammation from infection or other causes destroys the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes. Bronchiectasis is a form of COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis). There are three primary types of bronchiectasis: 1) cylindrical bronchiectasis; 2) saccular bronchiectasis; and 3) cystic bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis may also be acquired or congenital. The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis are recurrent cough and sputum production. There is no cure for bronchiectasis. Treatment is often geared toward controlling the symptoms of bronchiectasis.
There are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.
If you have a COPD such as emphysema, avoiding chronic bronchitis and colds is important to avoid a more severe respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Avoiding cigarette smoking, practice good hygeine, stay away from crowds, and alerting your healthcare provider if you have a sinus infection or cold or cough that becomes worse. Treatment options depend upon the severity of the emphysema, bronchitis, or cold combination.
Exercise-induced asthma is asthma triggered by vigorous exercise. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and fatigue while exercising. Preventing exercise-induced asthma attacks involves using inhaled medicines before exercising, performing warm-up exercises and cooling down afterward, avoiding exercising outdoors when pollen counts are high, restricting exercise when you have a viral infection, and wearing a mask over your nose and mouth when exercising in cold weather.
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that are primarily responsible
for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the
blood.
The lung is composed of clusters of small air sacs (alveoli) divided by thin,
elastic walls or membranes. Capillaries, the tiniest of blood vessels, run
within these walls between the alveoli and allow blood and air to come near each other. The distance between the air in the lungs and the blood in the
capillaries is very small, and allows molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide to
transfer across the membranes.
Air reaches the alveoli via the bronchial tree. The trachea splits into the
right and left mainstem bronchi, which branch further into bronchioles and
finally ends in the alveolar air sacs.
When we breathe in, air enters the lung and the alveoli expand. Oxygen is
transferred onto Read the Emphysema article »
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