Short-Acting Beta-Agonists
Short-acting beta-agonists work quickly to relieve acute attack symptoms. Beta-agonists relax the smooth muscles around the airways. Your doctor may prescribe a beta-agonist to use as needed to relieve acute attack symptoms. If you use more than one of these metered-dose inhalers in a month, talk with your doctor. It is a sign that your lung disease is poorly controlled and your long-term control medications may need to be adjusted.
- Albuterol (generic)
- Alupent® (metaproterenol)
- Maxair® and Maxair Autohaler® (pirbuterol)
- Proventil®, Proventil HFA®, and Ventolin® (albuterol)
- Xopenex® (levalbuterol)
|
- Works quickly to relieve acute attack symptoms
- Relax the smooth muscles around the airways
- Side effects may include: increased heart rate, shakiness, nervous, jittery feeling
|
- Available as MDI, dry powder inhaler, nebulizer solution
- Usually prescribed on an as needed basis to relieve acute attack symptoms.
- If you use more than one metered-dose inhaler a month, talk with your doctor or healthcare professional. This is a sign that your lung disease is not under good control and your long-term control medicine needs to be adjusted.
|
This information has been approved by David Tinkelman, M.D. (February 2006).
