Most women who used to have acute asthma, would usually face more severe asthma condition during their pregnancy. So are women safe to use albuterol inhalers during their pregnancy? This question has been asked many times but no reliable source has truly confirmed whether there is a yes or no.

However, studies did show that albuterol has signs of side effects on animals in pregnancy which raised an alarm that they could potentially harm the human beings too. Inside the studies, birth defects were detected on mice, particularly cleft palate. Other signs like skull or brain problems, were detected on animals like rabbits.

An albuterol inhaler has also been given a rating of Pregnancy Category C by US Food And Drug Administration. Such category system has been used to classify the different levels of risk to the fetus of a pregnant woman for a specific medicine in question. For Category C, it refers to medicines that have appeared to cause harm to pregnancy in animals but have not been studied in pregnant human beings.

Do not be afraid when you read this article about the issues with albuterol with pregnancy because if you are pregnant and unable to breathe properly, your baby will feel the same like you. Also without the required amount of oxygen, your body would not be able to pump blood properly around and to your baby too. The disadvantages would then outweigh the potential side effects of albuterol inhaler on pregnant women isn’t it?

What we hope to achieve is to discuss with you on the potential problems but not to discourage you from using one. You are reminded to use it with caution (eg. when facing milder asthma symptoms, you may just want to cope with it, rather than using an inhaler). Make sure that you follow on your dosage of albuterol inhaler that your doctor recommended strictly and not to exceed them.

Remember to prepare yourself with an alternative health care provider other than your primary one, so that if you fail to contact the latter in the case of emergency, you can always have another provider to help you with questions or needs.

Before  you use an Albuterol Inhaler, it is important that you know how to operate it properly. The way to do it may not be the same for every individual hence you should consult your health service provider for one that suits you. However, below are some typical tips for you.

How To Operate An Albuterol Inhaler Properly?

1. Remove the protective mouth cap from the end of the mouth piece. Shake your inhaler gently.

2. If it is the first time you use an inhaler or if you have not used it for a long time, you should it give a test spray by pressing the top of the canister to spray it into the air.

3. Breathe out as completely as possible through your mouth. Put the mouthpiece of the inhaler directly into your mouth. However, some health-care professionals now recommend to position the inhaler 1 to 2 inches away from the mouth. You should consult your health service provider which is the best method for you.

4. Breathe in slowly and spray the medication into the mouth while doing so. Do not spray into the back of the throat and swallow it. The spray should be inhaled directly into your lungs.

5. You should wait at least 1 minute before you go for the next spray. It is not always necessary to spray more than once. The dosage of your Albuterol Inhaler should depend on what your health service provider recommends.

6. To treat or prevent an asthma attack, it is recommended to give yourself 2 sprays or as needed, every 4 to 6 hours.

If you have never use an Albuterol Inhaler before, do read the written instructions that come with it.  Ask your health service provider to show you how to use it. Practice using it while he or she watches.

An Albuterol Inhaler may also be used in the event of exercise-induced asthma attack. You may have exercise-induced asthma if you cough, wheeze or feel out of breathe during or after exercise. An exercise-induced asthma is typically or may only be triggered by exercise or physical exertion.

What Happens During An Exercise-Induced Asthma Attack :

When an exercise-induced asthma attack occurs, our bronchial tubes, the main air passage ways of our lungs, become inflamed.  Our airways will be further narrowed when the muscles of the bronchial walls tighten and cells in the lungs produce further muscus.

Signs And Symptoms Of An Exercise-Induced Asthma :

Apparently when a person suffers from an exercise-induced asthma may display common signs or symptoms like wheezing, tightness or pain in chest, coughing or even severe or prolonged shortness of breathe. Additional symptoms include fatigue during exercise, longer recovery time after exercise or even poor athletic performance.

Causes Of An Exercise-Induced Asthma :

Regular asthma and exercise-induced asthma are similar conditions on a practical level. Exercise may be the only cause of exercise-induced asthma but sometimes can be triggered by allergies, pet dander or respiratory infections. Symptoms triggered by exercise can occur to anyone who has asthma.

Proper warm up and cool down may prevent or reduce the incidence of exercise-induced asthma. For patients with exercise-induced asthma, it is recommended to use an albuterol inhaler 15 to  30 minutes before any physical activity.

The dose of your Albuterol Inhaler your health care provider recommended should be strictly followed. You may only adjust it only when you are specifically instructed to do so. It typically varies depending on the severity of your asthma or other respiratory problems, whether you are using the your inhaler to prevent or treat asthma, and implications with other medicines you are taking at the moment.

General Albuterol Inhaler Dosage :

Typically, to treat or prevent an asthma attack, the recommended dosage is 2 sprays or as needed, every 4 to 6 hours. To prevent exercise-induced asthma, it is recommended to have 2 sprays 15 to 30 minutes before exercising. However, if your Albuterol Inhaler does not adequately or effectively control your asthma attack, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Above are only some general dosage guidelines when using an Albuterol Inhaler. Different patients have different asthma conditions or breathing problems. Some patients need only 1 spray to control their asthma symptoms where others may need more sprays frequently. Some use an inhaler to prevent an attack where some use it only during an attack when they need it.

An Albuterol Inhaler is a Metered-Dosed Inhaler (MDI) that typically comes either CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) or HFA (Hydrofluoroalkane) propelled. CFC are the commonly used propellant in the early days of MDIs.

HFA are the more environmental-friendly propellant found in the newer models of MDI. An HFA-propelled Albuterol Inhaler may taste and feel different than a CFC-propelled one. You may feel the spray of an HFA-propelled inhaler softer.

CFC-propelled Albuterol Inhalers will be phasing out as they have been found to be harmful to the environment by contributing to depletion of the ozone layer above the Earth’s surface. Effectively after December 31st 2008, CFC-propelled inhalers will not be available in the United States.

Hence, CFC-propelled Albuterol Inhaler users are strongly urged to consult their health service provider to switch to HFA-propelled inhalers soonest as FDA (U.S. Food And Drug Administration) has approved the latter and manufacturers have increased the their production for adequate supply and purchase.

An Albuterol Inhaler is a prescription-based asthma inhaler which is typically used when there is an asthma attack. Albuterol can cause side effects and the amount of inhalations should not be administered more often than prescribed.

Who Uses An Albuterol Inhaler?
An Albuterol Inhaler is mainly used by patients with asthma or exercise-induced asthma, whose airways are obstructed when breathing (bronchospasm). It can also be used to treat patients with emphysema and chronic bronchitis when their symptoms are related to reversible airway obstruction.

Who Should Use An Albuterol Inhaler With Caution?
Patients with coronary heart diseases or cardiac rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) should use an Albuterol Inhaler with caution. The combined effect of Albuterol with other stimulant medications will affect the heart rate and blood pressure and may potentially cause chest pain in patients with underlying coronary heart disease.

Excessive use of albuterol inhalations will have adverse effects on the heart. Always remember to follow proper inhalation technique and the specific instructions that come with the drug packaging should be followed exactly.

An Albuterol Inhaler is fundamentally a medical device. It contains Albuterol inside a metal canister and releases the drug when operated, by means of Metered-Dose Inhaler. It is typically used during a severe asthma attack.

Note: Albuterol is a type of medicine (also known as bronchodilator) which provides quick relief to asthma-related symptoms like shortness of breathe, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. It is part of a class of asthma drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short.

What Is Albuterol Inhaler Used For :
An Albuterol Inhaler is primarily used to relieve asthma or chronic bronchitis symptoms, or to prevent the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. It can only be used by adults or children whom are at least 12 years old and above.

How It Works :

When operated, the MDI (Metered-Dosed Inhaler) transforms liquid Albuterol into a fine mist, which will then be inhaled through the patient’s mouth (also known as a puff) or sometimes using an additional device called spacer. Albuterol is a drug then will then relax the smooth muscles of the airways from the trachea all the way down to the smallest airways.

Other Information :

Each puff of Albuterol contains 90 micrograms of medicine. 2 puffs are needed as a usual dose to relieve asthma and can be repeated every 4 to 6 hours. For exercise-induced asthma, it is recommended to use it 15 to  30 minutes before any physical activity.

An Albuterol Inhaler comes in 2 types of inhalers, CFC-Free Inhaler and HFA-Type Inhaler.

Albuterol does have some side effects. During the first several days when taken, your body needs to adjust to the medication, hence you may experience one or more of the following symptoms or common side effects. These symptoms should not continue and if they become too bothersome to you, do consult your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.

• Nervousness
• Shakiness
• Lightheadedness
• Sleeping difficulty
• Headache
• Tremor
• Unusual Taste In Mouth
• Increased In Appetite
• Muscle Cramps
• Flushing
• Nausea
• Sore Or Dry Throat
• Sinus Inflammation
• Vomiting
• Dizziness

In the event of serious drug allergic reaction to Albuterol, one would develop the following symptoms or severe side effects. He/She will be strongly advised to consult a doctor immediately.

• Swelling Of The Mouth, Face, Lips Or Tongue
• Severe Headache Or Dizziness
• New Or Worsened Trouble Breathing
• Rash/Hives/Itching
• Tightness In The Chest
• Chest Pain
• Ear Pain
• Fast Or Irregular Heart Beat
• Pounding In The Chest
• Red, Swollen, Blistered, or Peeling Skin
• Unusual Hoarseness
• Wheezing

Any other side effect that is not listed above should be made known to your doctor or pharmacist too. You may also report your side effect with Albuterol to FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or contact them at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Albuterol is the medication or inhalation solution that is used in an Albuterol Inhaler. Albuterol is also known as Salbutamol, Proventil or Ventolin and needs to be strictly taken as prescribed.

The major usage of Albuterol is to open the breathing passages in the lungs to make breathing easier. It is primarily used to treat or prevent asthma attack or other breathing problems.

Albuterol is inhaled into the lungs of an asthma patient using an Albuterol Inhaler usually 3 to 4 times a day. Patients might need to prepare the medication by measuring the proper amount and dilute with sterile normal saline as directed. Proper way of preparing the medication and operating of inhaler should be clearly explained and demonstrated by your health care provider.

Note :

Using this medication should be clearly directed. Do not overdose or use it more frequently than directed. Excessive usage may result in a loss of effectiveness and increase the chances of side effects with Albuterol. If your asthma condition becomes worsen or does not improve after using this drug, you should consult your doctor immediately.

An Albuterol Inhaler is typically used in the event of asthma attack. Bronchospasm occurs during an asthma attack which causes difficulty in breathing and can be mild or severe.

In normal or non-asthmatic condition, air travels into and out of our lungs through a network of airways (bronchial tubes) easily. The airways are relaxed and the tissues are thin.

During an asthma attack or asthmatic condition, muscles around the airways (bronchial tubes) tighten and thicken and the air passages become inflamed and mucus-filled. This makes it difficult for air to flow through which causes difficulty in breathing.

What Causes Asthma Attack?

Asthma attack can be triggered by environmental or physical factors. Environmental factors could be due to inhaling of cigarette smoke, strong chemical odors or spray cleansers. Physical factors could be due to colds or flu, or excessive exercise or under-stress.