Comments on: How many puffs Per Day of an Albuterol Inhaler for Asthma Is Too Much? http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much Answers to all your questions about asthma. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:50:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mathieu http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-1489 Mathieu Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:34:26 +0000 http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much#comment-1489 That is FAR too much. The proper official dose is 1-2 puffs every 4-6hrs as needed The maximum is 12 puffs/day. Albuterol (aka salbutamol) is a short acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist used as a rescue inhaler. Although it sounds unlikely, using that much albuterol can land people in hospital. Albuterol is not a toy. She is obviously taking too much because no doctor would write for 20 puffs/day. For the most part, a doctor would say that it is fine to use a rescue inhaler a few times a week and at most one time per day. If a person needs to take more (except in very acute situations) they need to be on a controller inhaler like Flovent. It contains the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate and tends to work very well. If that is not enough, something like Advair, a combination long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (salmeterol) and the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate found in Flovent. The long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists like salmeterol in Advair have higher risks of serious side effects so it is best to start with a drug like Flovent which only has the corticosteroid. They are both good drugs and both are safe but Flovent is good to start with. Simply put, you should be worried, it is far too much, and she needs to stop. That is FAR too much.

The proper official dose is 1-2 puffs every 4-6hrs as needed
The maximum is 12 puffs/day. Albuterol (aka salbutamol) is a short acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist used as a rescue inhaler. Although it sounds unlikely, using that much albuterol can land people in hospital. Albuterol is not a toy. She is obviously taking too much because no doctor would write for 20 puffs/day.

For the most part, a doctor would say that it is fine to use a rescue inhaler a few times a week and at most one time per day. If a person needs to take more (except in very acute situations) they need to be on a controller inhaler like Flovent. It contains the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate and tends to work very well. If that is not enough, something like Advair, a combination long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (salmeterol) and the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate found in Flovent.

The long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists like salmeterol in Advair have higher risks of serious side effects so it is best to start with a drug like Flovent which only has the corticosteroid. They are both good drugs and both are safe but Flovent is good to start with.

Simply put, you should be worried, it is far too much, and she needs to stop.

]]> By: atlanta sedeno http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-1488 atlanta sedeno Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:03:40 +0000 http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much#comment-1488 Albuterol is a fast-acting bronchodilator intended for as-needed/short-term treatment of asthma. It is a Β2-receptor agonist and works by relaxing the muscles in the airways. However, this drug also has an effect on other muscles in the body, including the heart. Overuse of this drug - meaning anything over the doctor's prescribing instructions - can result in cardiac abnormalities, including arrhythmias, flushing, and heart palpitations. The likelihood and extent of these side effects occurring depends on your girlfriend's health - does she have high blood pressure, diabetes, is she overweight, etc. Most importantly, if she is needing to use her albuterol this often, she should see a doctor and get a prescription for a corticosteroid medication. These medications reduce swelling and inflammation in the airways, which will definitely help with cough/wheezing. Prednisone and Medrol are commonly prescribed steroid tablets that will immediately begin reducing inflammation. Flovent is an inhaled medication intended for the management of asthma (will reduce the need for albuterol in the long run). Albuterol is a fast-acting bronchodilator intended for as-needed/short-term treatment of asthma. It is a Β2-receptor agonist and works by relaxing the muscles in the airways. However, this drug also has an effect on other muscles in the body, including the heart. Overuse of this drug – meaning anything over the doctor’s prescribing instructions – can result in cardiac abnormalities, including arrhythmias, flushing, and heart palpitations. The likelihood and extent of these side effects occurring depends on your girlfriend’s health – does she have high blood pressure, diabetes, is she overweight, etc.

Most importantly, if she is needing to use her albuterol this often, she should see a doctor and get a prescription for a corticosteroid medication. These medications reduce swelling and inflammation in the airways, which will definitely help with cough/wheezing. Prednisone and Medrol are commonly prescribed steroid tablets that will immediately begin reducing inflammation. Flovent is an inhaled medication intended for the management of asthma (will reduce the need for albuterol in the long run).

]]> By: Menthoids http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much/comment-page-1#comment-1487 Menthoids Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:05:43 +0000 http://asthmaquestions.org/asthma/how-many-puffs-per-day-of-an-albuterol-inhaler-for-asthma-is-too-much#comment-1487 An albuterol inhaler is a short-acting beta-agonist that works as a bronchodilator. These medications improve asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscles in the airways that tighten during an asthma attack. You can normally use 2 puffs every 4 hours (12 puffs a day) as needed to relieve asthma symptoms. So here's the thing: Short-acting albuterol should not be used regularly for the control of asthma in people who: * Awake from cough more than 2 nights per month * Use a rescue inhaler more than twice per week * Have asthma symptoms more than twice per week * Have symptoms that interfere with their daily activities Using too much albuterol will give one the shakes so it's easy to see if she is 'overdosing' however if she is needing this much reliever, she should really be assessed by her doctor as she may need a short course of a more potent drug or may need a better combination of preventer and reliever. If she is not taking a preventer, this may also need addressing. Cheers An albuterol inhaler is a short-acting beta-agonist that works as a bronchodilator. These medications improve asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscles in the airways that tighten during an asthma attack.

You can normally use 2 puffs every 4 hours (12 puffs a day) as needed to relieve asthma symptoms.

So here’s the thing: Short-acting albuterol should not be used regularly for the control of asthma in people who:

* Awake from cough more than 2 nights per month
* Use a rescue inhaler more than twice per week
* Have asthma symptoms more than twice per week
* Have symptoms that interfere with their daily activities

Using too much albuterol will give one the shakes so it’s easy to see if she is ‘overdosing’ however if she is needing this much reliever, she should really be assessed by her doctor as she may need a short course of a more potent drug or may need a better combination of preventer and reliever. If she is not taking a preventer, this may also need addressing.

Cheers

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