What it means
A short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) bronchodilator. It relaxes the smooth muscle around the airways within minutes and lasts about 4 to 6 hours, so it is the rescue inhaler for asthma attacks and bronchospasmBRONG-koh-spaz-umA sudden tightening of the muscles around the airways that narrows them.bronch/o bronchus-spasm sudden involuntary contractionFull entry in COPDsee-oh-pee-dee (said as letters)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.chronic long-lastingobstructive blockingpulmon/o lung-ary relating toFull entry . It is given by metered-dose inhaler or nebulizer. Common side effects are a fast heart rate, shakiness, nervousness and, with large doses, low potassium. Its international name is salbutamol.
For the nurse
Check heart rate, lung sounds and oxygen saturation before and after a dose. If the client uses an inhaled steroid too, the albuterol goes first to open the airways. Teach inhaler technique with a spacer, and to report needing the rescue inhaler more often than usual.
Remember it
Albuterol is the "rescue" inhaler: quick in, quick out.
At a glance
| Drug class | short-acting beta-2 adrenergic agonist (bronchodilator) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, Proventil HFA, AccuNeb (nebulizer solution) |
| Spanish | albuterol, salbutamol |
| Also written | salbutamol, ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil |
Related terms
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to move air out of the lungs.
wheezing
A high-pitched, whistling sound made as air moves through narrowed airways.
bronchospasm
A sudden tightening of the muscles around the airways that narrows them.
adrenergic
Relating to nerves and receptors that respond to epinephrine and norepinephrine, or a drug that acts like them.