Albuterol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist sold in the U.S. under 10 brand and generic names, for asthma and bronchial spasm. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Beta2-Adrenergic Agonist
- Treats (across its forms)
- Asthma and Bronchial Spasm
- Available as
- Spray/Inhaler, metered · Spray/Inhaler · Solution · Syrup · Tablet · Capsule · Powder, metered · Tablet, extended release
- Sold as
- 10 products — Albuterol Sulfate, Ventolin and Ventolin Rotacaps, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 5 to 6 hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $11 for a 30-count supply — not your price
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How Proair Digihaler is dosed
From the FDA label for Proair Digihaler (application NDA205636). Other albuterol products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
For oral inhalation only Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in adults and children 4 years of age and older: 2 inhalations every 4 to 6 hours by oral inhalation. In some patients, 1 inhalation every 4 hours may be sufficient. ( 2.1 ) Prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm in adults and children 4 years of age and older: 2 inhalations 15 to 30 minutes before exercise by oral inhalation. ( 2.2 ) ProAir Digihaler does not require priming. ( 2.3 ) Do not use with a spacer or volume holding chamber. ( 2.3 ) Keep the inhaler clean and dry at all times. Routine maintenance is not required. If the mouthpiece needs cleaning, gently wipe the mouthpiece with a dry cloth or tissue as needed. Never wash or put any part of the inhaler in water. ( 2.3 ) Discard 13 months after opening the foil pouch, when the dose counter displays 0, or after the expiration date on the product, whichever comes first. ( 2.3 ) ProAir Digihaler contains a built-in electronic module which detects, records, and stores data on inhaler events for transmission to the mobile App. Use of the App is not required for administration of medication to the patient. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage for Bronchospasm The recommended dosage is 2 inhalations every 4 to 6 hours by oral inhalation. More frequent administration or a larger number of inhalations is not recommended. In some patients, 1 inhalation every 4…
Everything below is the FDA label for Proair Digihaler (spray/inhaler). Albuterol is also sold as spray/inhaler, metered, solution, syrup, tablet, capsule, powder, metered and tablet, extended release, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Proair Digihaler side effects
Use of ProAir Digihaler may be associated with the following: Paradoxical bronchospasm [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Cardiovascular Effects [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Immediate hypersensitivity reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Hypokalemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥1% and >placebo) are back pain, pain, gastroenteritis viral, sinus headache, urinary tract infection, nasopharyngitis, oropharyngeal pain and vomiting. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Teva Respiratory, LLC at 1-888-483-8279 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience A total of 1289 subjects were treated with albuterol sulfate inhalation powder (ProAir RespiClick hereafter referred to as albuterol sulfate MDPI) during the clinical development program. The most common adverse reactions (≥1% and >placebo) were back pain, pain, gastroenteritis viral, sinus headache, and urinary tract infection. Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adults and Adolescents 12 years of Age and Older: The adverse reaction information presented in Table 1 below concerning…
Who shouldn’t take Proair Digihaler
ProAir Digihaler is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to albuterol and/or severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins. Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions, including urticaria, angioedema, and rash have been reported after the use of albuterol sulfate. There have been reports of anaphylactic reactions in patients using inhalation therapies containing lactose [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] . Patients with hypersensitivity to albuterol. ( 4 ) Patients with severe hypersensitivity to milk proteins. ( 4 )
Proair Digihaler drug interactions
Other short-acting sympathomimetic bronchodilators should not be used concomitantly with ProAir Digihaler. If additional adrenergic drugs are to be administered by any route, they should be used with caution to avoid deleterious cardiovascular effects. Other short-acting sympathomimetic aerosol bronchodilators and adrenergic drugs: May potentiate effect. ( 7 ) Beta-blockers: May decrease effectiveness of ProAir Digihaler and produce severe bronchospasm. Patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. ( 7.1) Diuretics, or non-potassium sparing diuretics: May potentiate hypokalemia or ECG changes. Consider monitoring potassium levels. ( 7.2 ) Digoxin: May decrease serum digoxin levels. Consider monitoring digoxin levels. ( 7.3 ) Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants: May potentiate effect of albuterol on the cardiovascular system. Consider alternative therapy in patients taking MAOs or tricyclic antidepressants. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Beta-Blockers Beta-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as ProAir Digihaler, but may produce severe bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. Therefore, patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. However, under certain circumstances, e.g., as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic-blocking agents in patients with asthma. In this setting, consider cardioselective beta-blockers, although they should be administered with caution. 7.2 Diuretics The ECG changes and/or hypokalemia which may result from the administration of non-potassium sparing diuretics (such as loop or thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by beta-agonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Although the clinical significance of these effects is not known, caution is advised in the coadministration of beta-agonists with non-potassium sparing diuretics. Consider monitoring potassium levels. 7.3 Digoxin Mean decreases of 16% and 22% in serum digoxin levels were demonstrated after single dose intravenous and oral administration of albuterol, respectively, to normal volunteers who had received digoxin for 10 days. The clinical significance of these findings for patients with obstructive airway disease who are receiving albuterol and digoxin on a chronic basis is unclear. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to carefully evaluate the serum digoxin levels in patients who are currently receiving digoxin and ProAir Digihaler. 7.4 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants ProAir Digihaler should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of albuterol on the cardiovascular system may be potentiated. Consider alternative therapy in patients taking MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. 7.1 Beta-Blockers Beta-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as ProAir Digihaler, but may produce severe bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. Therefore, patients with asthma should not normally be treated with beta-blockers. However, under certain circumstances, e.g., as prophylaxis after myocardial infarction, there may be no acceptable alternatives to the use of beta-adrenergic-blocking agents in patients with asthma. In this setting, consider cardioselective beta-blockers, although they should be administered with caution. 7.2 Diuretics The ECG changes and/or hypokalemia which may result from the administration of non-potassium sparing diuretics (such as loop or thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by beta-agonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Although the clinical significance of these effects is not known, caution is advised in the coadministration of beta-agonists with non-potassium sparing diuretics. Consider monitoring potassium levels. 7.3 Digoxin Mean decreases of 16% and 22% in serum digoxin levels were demonstrated after single dose intravenous and oral administration of albuterol, respectively, to normal volunteers who had received digoxin for 10 days. The clinical significance of these findings for patients with obstructive airway disease who are receiving albuterol and digoxin on a chronic basis is unclear. Nevertheless, it would be prudent to carefully evaluate the serum digoxin levels in patients who are currently receiving digoxin and ProAir Digihaler. 7.4 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants ProAir Digihaler should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of albuterol on the cardiovascular system may be potentiated. Consider alternative therapy in patients taking MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants.
Every albuterol product we track (10)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 7 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Powder | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 8 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Solution | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 9 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Spray/Inhaler | Generic | $11 | View → | |
| 10 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $11 | View → |
Combination products containing albuterol
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
Albuterol recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution
Labelling: Illegible label
Nephron SC, LLC · Mar 17, 2026
Albuterol Sulfate
Failed Stability Specifications: Out of specification results was observed in Induction Port during the analysis of Particle size distribution at the 12-month time point.
Cipla USA, Inc. · Jul 24, 2025
Airsupra (albuterol and budesonide) inhalation aerosol
Defective delivery system
AsttraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP · May 14, 2025
Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution USP
Short fill: Complaints received of less fill volume in respule and few drops of liquid observed in the intact pouch.
Cipla USA, Inc. · Mar 26, 2024
Albuterol and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for albuterol: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadAlthough no published data exist on the use of albuterol by mouth or inhaler during lactation, data from the related drug, terbutaline, indicate that very little is expected to be excreted into breastmilk. The authors of several reviews and expert guidelines agree that use of inhaled bronchodilators is acceptable during breastfeeding because of the low bioavailability and maternal serum levels after use.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised January 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about albuterol
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 97,268 reports naming albuterol, and the FDA flagged 42% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- dyspnoea14,362 reports
- device delivery system issue8,106 reports
- drug dose omission by device7,750 reports
- asthma7,405 reports
- cough6,861 reports
- fatigue5,447 reports
- headache5,121 reports
- wheezing4,639 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean albuterol caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long albuterol stays in your system
The elimination half-life of albuterol is about 5 to 6 hours. FDA labels give closely matching values by route: after an oral 4 mg tablet or syrup, albuterol "is eliminated with a half-life of about 5 hours"; after inhalation the terminal plasma half-life is roughly 4.6 to 6 hours. Half-life is not the same as how long the inhaler works — bronchodilation from a rescue inhaler fades in about 4 to 6 hours even though drug is still measurable. In children 4 to 11, the inhaled terminal half-life was shorter, about 166 minutes (2.8 hours). Kidney impairment: in 5 subjects with creatinine clearance 7 to 53 mL/min the label reports renal disease had NO effect on half-life, but albuterol clearance fell 67%, so systemic exposure rises and high doses warrant caution — most albuterol is cleared renally (80% to 100% of the dose as parent drug or its primary metabolite). Liver impairment and older adults: not studied, so no adjusted value exists. The label names no active metabolite that outlasts the parent — albuterol is metabolized mainly by the sulfotransferase SULT1A3 to a sulfate conjugate the label treats as an elimination product, not an active drug. Extended-release oral albuterol tablets are no longer marketed in the US, so no current label states a different half-life for an ER form.
DailyMed — Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol, FDA prescribing information, Section 12 Clinical Pharmacology ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Proair Digihaler?
The active ingredient of ProAir Digihaler inhalation powder is albuterol sulfate, a racemic salt of albuterol. Albuterol sulfate is a beta 2 -adrenergic agonist.
What kind of drug is albuterol?
The FDA classifies albuterol as a beta2-adrenergic agonist. Beta2-adrenergic agonists bind to beta-2 receptors on the muscle that wraps the airways, triggering a signal (via cAMP) that relaxes that muscle. The airways widen, making it easier to breathe in conditions like asthma and COPD. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does albuterol stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of albuterol is about 5 to 6 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. FDA labels give closely matching values by route: after an oral 4 mg tablet or syrup, albuterol "is eliminated with a half-life of about 5 hours"; after inhalation the terminal plasma half-life is roughly 4.6 to 6 hours. Half-life is not the same as how long the inhaler works — bronchodilation from a rescue inhaler fades in about 4 to 6 hours even though drug is still measurable. In children 4 to 11, the inhaled terminal half-life was shorter, about 166 minutes (2.8 hours). Kidney impairment: in 5 subjects with creatinine clearance 7 to 53 mL/min the label reports renal disease had NO effect on half-life, but albuterol clearance fell 67%, so systemic exposure rises and high doses warrant caution — most albuterol is cleared renally (80% to 100% of the dose as parent drug or its primary metabolite). Liver impairment and older adults: not studied, so no adjusted value exists. The label names no active metabolite that outlasts the parent — albuterol is metabolized mainly by the sulfotransferase SULT1A3 to a sulfate conjugate the label treats as an elimination product, not an active drug. Extended-release oral albuterol tablets are no longer marketed in the US, so no current label states a different half-life for an ER form. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take albuterol with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run albuterol against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is albuterol sold under?
We track 10 albuterol-containing products in the U.S.: Albuterol Sulfate, Ventolin, Ventolin Rotacaps, Accuneb, Proair Digihaler, Proair Hfa, Proair Respiclick and Proventil, and 2 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does albuterol come in?
Across the brands we track, albuterol is currently marketed as spray/inhaler, metered, spray/inhaler, solution, syrup, tablet, capsule, powder, metered and tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic albuterol?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic albuterol product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has albuterol been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 4 recall records whose product description mentions albuterol. The most recent: Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution (Mar 17, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Why does albuterol make me shaky and my heart race?
Because albuterol doesn't stay in your airways. Its beta-2 stimulation also hits skeletal muscle, which produces the classic hand tremor, and it relaxes blood vessels enough to trigger reflex tachycardia — so tremor, a fast or pounding heartbeat, nervousness or jitteriness, and headache come as a package. They're dose-related: more puffs or a nebulizer treatment produces more of them. They usually fade over the following hour or two as the dose wears off, and regular users often find the tremor becomes less noticeable over weeks of use. Throat irritation and cough are also common. Practical moves: if yours is a pressurized metered-dose inhaler, use a spacer so more drug reaches your lungs and less hits your throat (spacers don't apply to breath-actuated dry-powder inhalers), and cut back on caffeine and decongestants on days you need several treatments. This answers for inhaled albuterol (ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil, nebulizer solution) — oral tablets and syrup cause far more shakiness and are rarely used now.
When is an albuterol reaction an emergency?
If breathing gets worse right after you inhale it, stop and get help — that's paradoxical bronchospasm, which the FDA label warns can be life-threatening. Call 911 for chest pain or pressure, an irregular or very fast heartbeat, fainting, or hives and facial swelling after a dose. The most important emergency signal is more ordinary: albuterol not working. If your usual dose doesn't relieve you, or relief lasts less than the usual 4 to 6 hours, or you're back for another dose within hours, your asthma is deteriorating and needs same-day medical attention, not more puffs. Waiting it out at home while re-dosing is the pattern behind most preventable asthma deaths.
How often is too often to use a rescue inhaler?
More than 2 days a week (not counting doses taken before exercise) means your asthma is not controlled and you likely need a daily controller inhaler — that's the threshold in US asthma guidelines from the NHLBI expert panel. Going through a canister in about a month, or needing it nightly, is a stronger red flag. Track it by the numbers, not by feel: most current albuterol inhalers have an integrated dose counter, and once it reads zero the inhaler can still spray propellant with no drug in it — which is why floating the canister in water is not a valid test. Rescue inhalers relieve symptoms; they do not treat the underlying airway inflammation, so escalating rescue use without a controller leaves the actual disease untreated.
Can albuterol affect blood potassium, blood sugar, or my other medications?
Yes, mainly at high or repeated doses. Albuterol drives potassium into cells, so heavy use — repeated nebulizer treatments during an attack — can lower blood potassium, and it can raise blood sugar, which matters if you have diabetes. That potassium drop compounds if you also take a loop or thiazide diuretic, and it becomes a rhythm risk in people on digoxin. Non-selective beta-blockers (propranolol, and timolol eye drops for glaucoma) can blunt albuterol's effect and provoke bronchospasm; cardioselective beta-blockers are usually the safer choice when a beta-blocker is required. MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants can amplify the cardiovascular effects. Tell your prescriber about eye drops — people routinely forget those count.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Albuterol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/albuterol
- MLA
- “Albuterol: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/albuterol.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for albuterol on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.