albuterol drug
Proventil, Proventil Repetabs, Ventolin, Volmax
What is the most important information I should know about albuterol?
• Seek medical attention if you notice that you require more than yourusual or more than the maximum amount of any asthma medication in a 24-hourperiod albuterol drug. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a seriousasthma attack albuterol drug.
What is albuterol?
• Albuterol works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing albuterol drug.
• Albuterol is used to treat bronchospasm (wheezing, shortness of breath)associated with reversible obstructive airway disease such as asthma albuterol drug.
• Albuterol may also be used for conditions other than those listed inthis medication guide albuterol drug.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking albuterol?
• Before taking albuterol, tell your doctor if you have
· heart disease or high blood pressure;
· epilepsy or another seizure disorder;
· diabetes;
· an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism);
· difficulty swallowing;
· liver disease; or
· kidney disease albuterol drug.
• You may not be able to take albuterol or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove albuterol drug.
• Albuterol is in the FDA pregnancy category C albuterol drug. This means that it is notknown whether it will harm an unborn baby albuterol drug. Do not take albuterol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment albuterol drug.
• It is not known whether albuterol passes into breast milk albuterol drug. Do not takealbuterol without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby albuterol drug.
How should I take albuterol?
• Take albuterol exactly as directed by your doctor albuterol drug. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you albuterol drug.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water albuterol drug.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid forms of albuterolwith a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon albuterol drug. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you canget one albuterol drug.
• Do not break, crush, or chew the Volmax or Proventil Repetabs tablets albuterol drug. These are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in the body albuterol drug. The Volmax tablets have an outer shell that is not absorbed by the body albuterol drug. Occasionally,this shell may be seen in the stool albuterol drug. This is not a problem as the medicationhas been absorbed by the body albuterol drug.
• Seek medical attention if you notice that you require more than yourusual or more than the maximum amount of any asthma medication in a 24-hourperiod albuterol drug. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a seriousasthma attack albuterol drug.
• Store the Volmax brand of albuterol tablets in the refrigerator between36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius) albuterol drug.
• Store all other forms of albuterol at room temperature away from moistureand heat albuterol drug.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember albuterol drug. However, if it is almosttime for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take thenext one as directed albuterol drug. Do not take a double dose of this medication albuterol drug.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention albuterol drug.
• Symptoms of an albuterol overdose may include angina or chest pain, irregularheartbeats or a fluttering heart, seizures, tremor, weakness, headache, nausea,and vomiting albuterol drug.
What should I avoid while taking albuterol?
• Avoid situations that may worsen your respiratory condition such as exercisingin cold, dry air; smoking; breathing in dust; and exposure to allergens suchas pet fur albuterol drug.
What are the possible side effects of albuterol?
• Stop taking albuterol and seek emergency medical attention if you experienceany of the following serious side effects:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or
· chest pain or irregular heartbeats albuterol drug.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur albuterol drug. Continueto take albuterol and talk to your doctor if you experience
· headache;
· dizziness or lightheadedness;
· insomnia;
· tremor or nervousness;
· sweating;
· nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; or
· dry mouth albuterol drug.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur albuterol drug. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome albuterol drug.
What other drugs will affect albuterol?
• Before taking albuterol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor,Toprol XL), propranolol (Inderal), acebutolol (Sectral), bisoprolol (Zebeta),carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol(Corgard), or pindolol (Visken);
· a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin(Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil),desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or protriptyline (Vivactil);
· a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
· another oral or inhaled bronchodilator; or
· caffeine, diet pills, or decongestants albuterol drug.
• You may not be able to take albuterol, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicationslisted above albuterol drug.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with albuterol oraffect your condition albuterol drug. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products albuterol drug.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about albuterol written forhealth professionals that you may read albuterol drug.
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