Albuterol is a medication used to manage asthma (condition of constricted airways) symptoms. Specifically, it prevents and treats bronchospasm, a condition in which your airways rapidly constrict. According to MedlinePlus, albuterol belongs to the category of medicines known as bronchodilators. It relaxes your airways and allows you to breathe better. Albuterol is an inhaled medication that is typically taken three to four times a day, says the National Library of Medicine.
Routine Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, albuterol can routinely cause trouble sleeping, headache, dizziness, cough and hoarseness. It can also cause a sore throat, a runny nose, muscle pain and diarrhea. Other common side effects include a dry throat or mouth, nasal congestion and nervousness. MedlinePlus says that albuterol can cause epistaxis (nosebleeds), tremors, mood changes, nausea, changes in appetite and pale skin. Talk to your doctor when these symptoms last for about three or more days.
Harmful Side Effects
Albuterol's serious side effects include chest pain, a fever, itching and hives, says MedlinePlus. It can cause palpitations (a pounding heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), arrythmias (irregular heartbeat), trouble breathing and dysphagia (trouble swallowing). Other critical side effects include swelling of your legs, ankles, hands or feet, and blisters. Albuterol can also lead to paradoxical bronchospasms, which display such symptoms as wheezing, breathing problems and chest tightness. It may cause hypokalemia (low potassium levels) and lead to intense thirst, frequent urination, muscle weakness, confusion and an irregular heartbeat. Sometimes, albuterol can cause severe hypertension (high blood pressure). Symptoms of hypertension include a severe headache, confusion, chest pain, breathing problems, blurred vision, tinnitus (ringing sounds in your ears) and convulsions. Call 911 at the onset of these symptoms.
Warnings
Avoid albuterol when you are allergic to it. You can develop life-threatening side effects such as trouble breathing, hives, and facial or tongue swelling.
The National Library of Medicine says to avoid albuterol with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medications. Albuterol can interact with these drugs and cause the aforementioned vascular side effects.
Albuterol can also disrupt uterine contractions during labor and delivery, says the National Library of Medicine. Avoid albuterol when you are pregnant.
Tell your physician if you are taking such medications as atelenol, labetelol or epinephrine. These drugs can interact with albuterol and cause the aforementioned symptoms.
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