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Ventolin HFA
albuterol inhaled
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: MDI: 90 mcg per actuation
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: 1 actuation = 108 mcg albuterol sulfate equivalent to 90 mcg albuterol base
bronchospasm
- [2 puffs inhaled q4-6h prn]
- Alt: 1 puff inhaled q4h prn
bronchospasm, acute (off-label)
- [mild-moderate exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-8 puffs inhaled q20min up to 4h, then 4-8 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
- [severe exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-12 puffs inhaled q20min up to 4h, then 4-12 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
bronchospasm, exercise-induced
- [2 puffs inhaled x1]
- Start: 5-30min before exercise
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: not defined; Info: caution advised if high-dose use
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: MDI: 90 mcg per actuation
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: 1 actuation = 108 mcg albuterol sulfate equivalent to 90 mcg albuterol base
bronchospasm
- [<4 yo (off-label)]
- Dose: 2 puffs inhaled q4-6h prn; Alt: 1 puff inhaled q4h prn
- [4 yo and older]
- Dose: 2 puffs inhaled q4-6h prn; Alt: 1 puff inhaled q4h prn
bronchospasm, acute (off-label)
- [<12 yo, mild-moderate exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-8 puffs inhaled q20min x3, then 4-8 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
- [1-11 yo, severe exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-8 puffs inhaled q20min x3, then 4-8 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
- [12 yo and older, mild-moderate exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-8 puffs inhaled q20min x3, then 4-8 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
- [12 yo and older, severe exacerbation]
- Dose: 4-12 puffs inhaled q20min x3, then 4-12 puffs inhaled q1-4h prn
bronchospasm, exercise-induced
- [<4 yo (off-label)]
- Dose: 1-2 puffs inhaled x1; Start: 5-30min before exercise
- [4 yo and older]
- Dose: 2 puffs inhaled x1; Start: 5-30min before exercise
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: not defined; Info: caution advised if high-dose use
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypersensitivity to milk protein, severe (DPI form)
- arrhythmia (hyperkalemia use in peds pts)
- caution: MAO inhibitor use w/in 14 days
- caution: TCA use w/in 14 days
- caution: electrolyte abnormalities
- caution: long QT syndrome, congenital
- caution: QT prolongation
- caution: QT prolongation family hx
- caution: torsades de pointes hx
- caution: arrhythmia
- caution: bradycardia
- caution: MI, recent
- caution: CHF
- caution: cardiovascular dz
- caution: pts unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines
- caution: diabetes mellitus
- caution: ketoacidosis
- caution: seizure disorder
- caution: hyperthyroidism
- caution: labor and delivery
- caution: renal impairment (high-dose use)
Drug Interactions .
Overview
albuterol inhaled
beta-2 agonist
- hypertensive effects
- hypokalemia
- prolongs QT interval (conditional)
- tachycardia
Contraindicated
- pimozide
- thioridazine
Avoid/Use Alternative
- acebutolol
- albuterol
- amitriptyline
- amoxapine
- arsenic trioxide
- atenolol
- bedaquiline
- betaxolol
- bisoprolol
- carvedilol
- cisapride
- clomipramine
- cocaine
- crizotinib
- desipramine
- domperidone
- doxepin
- dronabinol
- dronedarone
- ephedra
- epinephrine inhaled
- esmolol
- fexinidazole
- furosemide
- hydroxychloroquine
- imipramine
- isocarboxazid
- labetalol
- landiolol
- lefamulin
- linezolid
- lonafarnib
- metoprolol
- midodrine
- mobocertinib
- nadolol
- nebivolol
- nortriptyline
- ozanimod
- phenelzine
- pindolol
- procarbazine
- propranolol
- protriptyline
- quizartinib
- rasagiline
- safinamide
- selegiline
- selegiline transdermal
- sotalol
- timolol
- toremifene
- tranylcypromine
- trimipramine
- vandetanib
- yohimbe
- ziprasidone
Monitor/Modify Tx
- abiraterone acetate
- acetazolamide
- adagrasib
- aliskiren
- almotriptan
- aloe
- amiloride
- aminophylline
- amiodarone
- amlodipine
- amphetamine
- amphotericin
- anagrelide
- angiotensin II
- apalutamide
- apomorphine
- aprocitentan
- arformoterol inhaled
- armodafinil
- artemether/lumefantrine
- asciminib
- asenapine
- asparaginase
- atogepant
- atomoxetine
- atropine
- atropine ophthalmic
- axitinib
- azilsartan medoxomil
- azithromycin
- benazepril
- benzphetamine
- benztropine
- betamethasone
- bevacizumab
- bismuth subsalicylate
- brigatinib
- budesonide
- bumetanide
- bupropion
- cabozantinib
- caffeine
- caffeine citrate
- candesartan cilexetil
- cannabis
- captopril
- carboplatin
- carfilzomib
- celecoxib
- ceritinib
- cetuximab
- chloroquine
- chlorothiazide
- chlorthalidone
- cisplatin
- citalopram
- clarithromycin
- clevidipine
- clofazimine
- clonidine
- copanlisib
- corticotropin
- cortisone
- cyclosporine
- danazol
- darbepoetin alfa
- decitabine
- deflazacort
- degarelix
- desflurane
- desmopressin
- desvenlafaxine
- dexamethasone
- dexmedetomidine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- dexmethylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- dichlorphenamide
- diclofenac
- diclofenac topical
- dicyclomine
- diethylpropion
- diflunisal
- digoxin
- dihydroergotamine
- diltiazem
- dinutuximab
- disopyramide
- dobutamine
- dofetilide
- donepezil
- dopamine
- doxapram
- doxazosin
- droperidol
- droxidopa
- eletriptan
- emapalumab
- enalapril
- enalaprilat
- encorafenib
- enzalutamide
- ephedrine injection
- ephedrine oral
- epinephrine
- epirubicin
- eplerenone
- epoetin alfa
- eptinezumab
- erenumab
- ergotamine
- eribulin
- erythromycin
- esketamine
- estetrol (contraceptive)
- estradiol (contraceptive)
- ethacrynic acid
- ethinyl estradiol (contraceptive)
- etodolac
- etrasimod
- felodipine
- fenfluramine
- fenoldopam
- fenoprofen
- fingolimod
- flecainide
- fludrocortisone
- fluorouracil
- flurbiprofen
- formoterol inhaled
- foscarnet
- fosinopril
- fostamatinib
- fremanezumab
- frovatriptan
- fruquintinib
- galcanezumab
- gilteritinib
- glasdegib
- glycopyrrolate
- goserelin
- guanfacine
- haloperidol
- histrelin
- hoodia
- hydralazine
- hydrochlorothiazide
- hydrocortisone
- hydroxyzine
- hyoscyamine
- ibrutinib
- ibuprofen
- ibutilide
- indapamide
- indomethacin
- inotuzumab ozogamicin
- insulin
- irbesartan
- isoflurane
- isoproterenol
- isradipine
- ivosidenib
- ketamine
- ketoprofen
- ketorolac
- lanreotide
- leflunomide
- lenalidomide
- lenvatinib
- leuprolide
- levalbuterol inhaled
- levofloxacin
- levoketoconazole
- levomilnacipran
- levothyroxine
- licorice
- lifileucel
- liothyronine
- liraglutide
- lisdexamfetamine
- lisinopril
- lofexidine
- lorlatinib
- losartan
- lumacaftor/ivacaftor
- luspatercept
- macimorelin
- magnesium citrate
- magnesium salicylate
- mannitol
- meclofenamate
- mefenamic acid
- meloxicam
- methacholine inhaled
- methadone
- methamphetamine
- methazolamide
- methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
- methscopolamine
- methyldopa
- methylergonovine
- methylphenidate
- methylprednisolone
- metoclopramide
- metolazone
- mifepristone
- milnacipran
- minoxidil
- mirabegron
- modafinil
- moexipril
- motixafortide
- moxifloxacin
- nabumetone
- naproxen
- naratriptan
- naxitamab
- necitumumab
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nilotinib
- nimodipine
- niraparib
- nisoldipine
- norepinephrine
- oliceridine
- olmesartan medoxomil
- olodaterol inhaled
- ondansetron
- orphenadrine
- osilodrostat
- osimertinib
- oxaprozin
- oxymetazoline nasal
- oxytocin
- pacritinib
- paliperidone
- palonosetron
- panitumumab
- panobinostat
- pasireotide
- pazopanib
- pentamidine
- perindopril
- pexidartinib
- phendimetrazine
- phenoxybenzamine
- phentermine
- phentolamine
- phenylephrine
- phenylephrine injection
- phenylephrine nasal
- phenylephrine ophthalmic
- phenylephrine rectal
- piroxicam
- polyethylene glycol
- polyethylene glycol/electrolytes
- ponatinib
- ponesimod
- posaconazole
- pralsetinib
- prazosin
- prednisolone
- prednisone
- procainamide
- propafenone
- pseudoephedrine
- quetiapine
- quinapril
- quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor)
- quinine
- ramipril
- ramucirumab
- regorafenib
- revumenib
- ribociclib
- rimegepant
- ripretinib
- rizatriptan
- romidepsin
- ropinirole
- rotigotine transdermal
- rucaparib
- sacituzumab govitecan
- salmeterol inhaled
- salsalate
- selinexor
- selpercatinib
- sevoflurane
- siponimod
- sirolimus albumin-bound
- sodium benzoate
- sodium phenylacetate
- sodium phenylbutyrate
- sodium polystyrene sulfonate
- sodium thiosulfate
- solriamfetol
- sorafenib
- spironolactone
- sulfate bowel prep
- sulindac
- sumatriptan
- sunitinib
- tacrolimus
- tafasitamab
- tagraxofusp
- telavancin
- telmisartan
- terazosin
- terbutaline
- teriflunomide
- testosterone
- tetrabenazine
- theophylline
- thyroid
- tivozanib
- tolmetin
- topiramate
- torsemide
- tramadol
- trametinib
- trandolapril
- trastuzumab
- triamcinolone
- triamterene
- triclabendazole
- trifluridine
- triptorelin
- trospium
- ubrogepant
- vadadustat
- valsartan
- vamorolone
- vasopressin
- vemurafenib
- venlafaxine
- verapamil
- vilanterol inhaled
- viloxazine
- voclosporin
- zavegepant
- ziv-aflibercept
- zolmitriptan
- zonisamide
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- bronchospasm, paradoxical
- hypersensitivity rxn
- anaphylaxis
- angioedema
- HTN
- angina
- arrhythmia
- hypokalemia
- hyperglycemia
- metabolic acidosis
Common Reactions
- URI
- rhinitis
- nausea
- throat irritation
- vomiting
- tremor
- tachycardia
- nervousness
- cough
- myalgia
- nasopharyngitis
- oropharyngeal pain
- headache
- palpitations
- UTI
- pain
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
no routine tests recommended
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Ventolin confused with: Benylin; Vantin
albuterol confused with: acebutolol; atenolol; Atrovent; labetalol; pirbuterol
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
may use during pregnancy; drug of choice for asthma use during pregnancy; weigh risk/benefit during labor and delivery; risk of fetal harm low based on human data; risk of interference w/ uterine contractility based on drug's mechanism of action
Pregnancy Registry
enroll pts or encourage pts to enroll in MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies at 1-877-311-8972 or at www.mothertobaby.org/asthma/
Lactation
Clinical Summary
may use while breastfeeding; no human data available, though risk of infant harm and adverse effects on milk production not expected based on minimal systemic absorption in breastfeeding pts
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: GI tract; CYP450: unknown
Excretion: urine 80-100%, feces <20%; Half-life: 4.6-7.1h
Subclass: Beta-2 Agonists, Inhaled Short-Acting (SABAs)
Mechanism of Action
selectively stimulates beta-2 adrenergic receptors, relaxing airway smooth muscle
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
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