albuterol treatment for lung diseases

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 treatment for lung diseases. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a seriousasthma attack albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

What is albuterol?
• Albuterol works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Albuterol is used to treat bronchospasm (wheezing, shortness of breath)associated with reversible obstructive airway disease such as asthma albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Albuterol may also be used for conditions other than those listed inthis medication guide albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

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 treatment for lung diseases.
• 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 treatment for lung diseases.
• Albuterol is in the FDA pregnancy category C albuterol treatment for lung diseases. This means that it is notknown whether it will harm an unborn baby albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Do not take albuterol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• It is not known whether albuterol passes into breast milk albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Do not takealbuterol without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

How should I take albuterol?
• Take albuterol exactly as directed by your doctor albuterol treatment for lung diseases. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• 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 treatment for lung diseases. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you canget one albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Do not break, crush, or chew the Volmax or Proventil Repetabs tablets albuterol treatment for lung diseases. These are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in the body albuterol treatment for lung diseases. The Volmax tablets have an outer shell that is not absorbed by the body albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Occasionally,this shell may be seen in the stool albuterol treatment for lung diseases. This is not a problem as the medicationhas been absorbed by the body albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• 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 treatment for lung diseases. An increased need for medication could be an early sign of a seriousasthma attack albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Store the Volmax brand of albuterol tablets in the refrigerator between36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 8 degrees Celsius) albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Store all other forms of albuterol at room temperature away from moistureand heat albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember albuterol treatment for lung diseases. However, if it is almosttime for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take thenext one as directed albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Do not take a double dose of this medication albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention albuterol treatment for lung diseases.
• Symptoms of an albuterol overdose may include angina or chest pain, irregularheartbeats or a fluttering heart, seizures, tremor, weakness, headache, nausea,and vomiting albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

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 treatment for lung diseases.

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 treatment for lung diseases.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur albuterol treatment for lung diseases. 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 treatment for lung diseases.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

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 treatment for lung diseases.
• 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 treatment for lung diseases.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with albuterol oraffect your condition albuterol treatment for lung diseases. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about albuterol written forhealth professionals that you may read albuterol treatment for lung diseases.

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