Side Effects of Albuterol

Albuterol, which is also known as Salbutamol, is a commonly prescribed drug for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It belongs to the β2-adrenergic receptor agonist class of drugs. It works as a bronchodilator, which relaxes muscles in the airways and increases air flow to the lungs. Many people consider albuterol to be a steroid, but it is not. It belongs to the category of sympathomimetic drugs.

Most of the sympathomimetic drugs, like Albuterol, are used to treat low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and other conditions. It is also used for patients having lung-related problems like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchospasm, observed in people with reversible obstructive airway disease. It is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm, which is induced by over-activity of the bronchioles' muscle. Albuterol is also used for patients with cystic fibrosis, along with ipratropium bromide, acetylcysteine, and pulmozyme by aerosolizing it with a nebulizer. In body-building, albuterol is used for its thermogenic effect. It means that albuterol works as an effective fat-loss agent like some steroids. Albuterol is a prescription drug which means that you require a prescription from a medical practitioner to use it.

Before prescribing albuterol, your doctor must know if you have diabetes, seizure disorders such as epilepsy, heart rhythm disorder, heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or overactive thyroid. Under these conditions, you may require to do some tests and adjust the dose accordingly. People who are allergic to albuterol should not use this medication. Your doctor should know if you are pregnant or planning to conceive, when you are using this medication, because this treatment may be harmful for the fetus. If you have a breast-feeding baby, consult your doctor before using albuterol.

However, albuterol medication has a few side-effects. They are given below.

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sleep related problems like insomnia
• Arrhythmias, flushing, myocardial ischaemia
• Nervousness, headache, dizziness or tremor
• Fast or uneven heart beats and chest pain
• Reddening, swelling of skin; blistered, or peeling skin
• Nausea, upper respiratory tract infections like common cold, sinus inflammation
• Dry throat and mouth, cough, strep throat, hoarseness, runny or stuffy nose
• Severe allergic reactions like swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, rash, hives, itching, etc
• Wheezing, tightness in chest, trouble in breathing, especially when you take a new canister of albuterol
• Allergic reactions of paradoxical bronchospasm such as urticaria, angioedema, hypotension, and collapse can also occur rarely
• Hypokalemia in which the level of potassium in the blood decreases, causing confusion, extreme thirst, uneven heart rate, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle pain or limp feeling. Patients with renal failure have greater possibility of hypokalemia.
• High blood pressure due to which the patient experiences unbearable headache, buzzing in the ears, blurred vision, anxiety, seizure, confusion, shortness of breath, chest pain and uneven heartbeats

These are some of the side-effects of albuterol. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking this medication, because the side-effects of albuterol may worsen if consumed with alcohol. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these side-effects or if you feel that your albuterol dose is not working as usual. Seek immediate medical help if you suspect an over intake of this medicine. An overdose of albuterol can be fatal.