Albuterol
- Class: SABA (beta-2 agonist)
- Used for: an asthma attack
- Say it: al-BYOO-ter-ol
- Forms: inhaler, nebulizer
ALBUTEROL = ALL BETTER, within minutes. The gripped airway lets go and the breath comes back.
Stimulating beta-2 receptors relaxes airway muscle fast. Minutes is the point — this is the rescue inhaler, never the daily one.
One heart, two lungs. Albuterol switches on beta-2 receptors, so airways open within minutes — and the tremor and fast pulse come from beta-2 receptors elsewhere in the body.
Side effects
Common: tremor, fast heartbeat, nervousness
Serious: low potassium, paradoxical bronchospasm
Typical dose
100–200 micrograms (1–2 puffs) as needed; 2.5–5 mg nebulised
One puff is 100 micrograms; a spacer roughly doubles what reaches the lung. Nebulised doses are far larger than inhaler doses and are not interchangeable with them.
Check yourself
Why does Albuterol cause a hand tremor?
- Beta-2 receptors also sit on skeletal muscle
- It blocks beta-1 receptors on the heart
- It is an anticholinergic side effect
- A tremor means the patient is allergic to it
Show answer
A. Beta-2 receptors also sit on skeletal muscle
Beta-2 receptors are not confined to the airway. Stimulating the ones on skeletal muscle gives the tremor, and the ones on the heart give the fast pulse — both unavoidable companions of the benefit.
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