An effective drug used for treating bronchospasm, Albuterol is also given for wheezing and breathing difficulty caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The drug is also known to treat exercise-induced bronchospasm.
A bronchodilator, Albuterol belong to the group of drugs known as beta-agonists.
The drug works by acting on the air passage muscles in the lungs. The drug relaxes the muscles, which helps in the increased flow of air in the lungs.
Albuterol comes in solution, liquid and aerosol. The solution is inhaled using a nebulizer and an inhaler can be used to take the aerosol. Before using Albuterol, it is always better to read through the label.
The Albuterol drug should only be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Before the doctor prescribes Albuterol, he should have to know about all your medical conditions. Once he knows about all your health history, he will be able to make a right decision on the prescription.
Albuterol is FDA pregnancy category C. This means that the medicine is harmful to the unborn babe. If you are carrying or hoping to get pregnant soon, you should have to inform the doctor. Well, the drug is not known to pass into breast milk. But even then if you are breast-feeding, you should go for Albuterol only after discussing about the risks and benefits of the drug with your doctor.
I you are on any other medication, you should be cautious and inform the doctor in advance as some drugs are known to interact with Albuterol.