Salbutamol for inhalation in adults and children

Inhalations are an effective method of treating upper respiratory tract diseases by introducing medicinal and herbal preparations with steam or through special nebulizers. This method allows deep penetration into organs, acting selectively, without causing harm to the body as a whole. Its effectiveness is quite high, so inhalations have become very popular, especially in pulmonology. There are many drugs on the modern pharmaceutical market made specifically for inhalations, one of them is salbutamol. [ 1 ]

Indications salbutamol

The medicine is intended for the treatment of obstructive diseases of the respiratory organs, which include chronic bronchitis with prolonged cough, leading to changes in the structure of the bronchi, chronic obstructive bronchitis with damage to the small airways, pulmonary emphysema, asthma.

The symptoms of these diseases are expressed in coughing, asthma attacks. Salmabutamol is effective in these symptoms, as well as in preventing their occurrence.

Release form

Salbutamol for inhalation is available in several forms:

• aerosol - is a metal can with a dispenser, equipped with a spray;
• solution - a colorless or slightly yellowish liquid, one of its trade names is salbutamol-native, intended for a nebulizer;
• powder - odorless, for inhalation it dissolves in water in a ratio of one to four.

Pharmacodynamics

The drug produces a rapid, literally 4-6 minutes, expansion of the bronchi due to the relaxation of their muscles, reaching a maximum by the 20th minute. It works for 4-5 hours. Reduces the resistance of the walls of the respiratory tract, promotes increased motility of the ciliated epithelium, which improves the transport of mucus, increases the vital capacity of the lungs. [ 2 ]

Pharmacokinetics

During inhalation, only a fifth of the substance reaches the lower respiratory tract, the rest is in the inhaler and nasopharynx (swallowed).

What gets into the stomach is absorbed through its walls. Ultimately, the active substance, entering the systemic circulation, is metabolized in the liver. It is excreted mainly by the kidneys within 72 hours. [ 3 ]

Dosing and administration

The only way to use it is by inhalation through the mouth. Doses for different age groups and depending on the form of the drug differ:

• metered dose inhaler - permitted from 4 years of age at 100 mcg or 1 inhalation (for acute bronchospasm), if necessary increased to two; for maintenance therapy 4 at 200 mcg, but not more than 800 mcg per day;
• salbutamol-native - for children 1.5-12 years old 2 mg per procedure, to relieve an attack it can be done four times, for prevention - 2 mg per day. For adults and children over 12 - 2.5 mg, it is possible to increase the dose to 5 mg, and the frequency of the procedure can be every 4-6 hours until the condition improves;
• powder for inhalation - doses are increased by 2 times, since water makes up 4 parts of the powder and are used according to the same schemes.

Application for children

Inhalations can be given to children starting from the age of 4. However, the drug can also be used for infants with distress syndrome – a breathing disorder that occurs in premature babies due to the immaturity of the lungs. Their dose of salbutamol is 0.02-0.04 ml/kg of 0.5% solution, to a volume of 1-2 ml it is necessary to bring it up to saline. The procedure is carried out after 5-6 hours. [ 7 ]

Use salbutamol during pregnancy

It is best not to use medication at all during pregnancy, since most drugs penetrate the placenta and can harm the unborn child. But what about women who suffer from asthma attacks? A severe form of the disease carries a much greater threat than drug therapy. In such cases, the doctor prescribes bronchodilators, which include salbutamol: a few breaths from an inhaler will relieve an asthma attack. [ 4 ]

Moreover, similar drugs, called selective sympathomimetics, are used in obstetrics to treat miscarriage, but only in intravenous form. [ 5 ]

Contraindications

Salbutamol is contraindicated for people with allergic reactions to the components of the drug, various heart pathologies: tachycardia, defect, myocarditis, heart failure. It is not prescribed to diabetics who do not regulate blood sugar with medications, epilepsy, glaucoma, liver and kidney dysfunction, as well as in parallel with other non-selective beta-blockers. [ 6 ]

Side effects salbutamol

The drug can cause insomnia, anxiety, mild muscle tremors, dizziness and headache, lower blood pressure, urticaria, facial swelling, dyspepsia, and rhinitis.

Overdose

Signs of overdose include increased heart rate and hyperactivity. Potassium levels in the blood serum may decrease and lactic acid levels may increase. These indicators must be monitored when inhaling. [ 8 ]

Interactions with other drugs

Salbutamol combines well with a number of anti-asthmatic drugs: glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines, mucolytics.

Concomitant use with non-selective beta-blockers is dangerous due to the development of suffocation.

Diuretics enhance its hypokalemic effect.

Tricyclic antidepressants increase the effect of the drug and can lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure.

Storage conditions

Storage conditions require keeping the preparations away from bright light, out of reach of children, away from fire, at an air temperature not exceeding 25ºС.

Shelf life

Salbutamol is suitable for use for 2 years from the date of manufacture, after which the drug must be disposed of.

Analogues

The range of medications is so wide that it is always possible to replace one or another drug with analogues with the same therapeutic effect.

What is better for inhalations? There is another remedy with several components identical to salbutamol - berodual. What should you choose?

Salbutamol is widely used as an emergency aid to relieve asthma attacks, it is even used in gynecology. The advantage of the drug is the various forms of release.

Berodual is effective against bronchitis, it contains 2 active ingredients, which makes it possible to use it in a smaller dosage. On the other hand, it has more side effects.

The appropriateness of using one or another drug should be left to the doctor's discretion.

Treatment of cough with inhalations can be done with other medications:

• Ventolin for inhalation - active ingredients - salbutamol and tetrafluoroethane. Indications are the same. The canister contains 200 doses of 100 mcg each. Frequency of use no more than 4 times a day;
• Berotek for inhalation - the main component is fenoterol hydrobromide, relaxes the muscles of the bronchi and blood vessels, is used to relieve asthma attacks, prevent them, and other conditions with reversible narrowing of the respiratory organs. The recommended dose (on average 5-10 drops) is brought to a volume of 3-4 ml with saline and the inhaler is filled;
• Pulmicort is a suspension for inhalation, made using budesonide, a glucocorticosteroid. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. It is used in patients for whom spraying medications with compressed air is ineffective and is used in nebulizers. The drug is not intended for rapid relief of asthma attacks;
• euphyllin - contains aminophylline and active substances of the theophylline group, has an antispasmodic effect. Getting inside as an aerosol, it envelops the affected surface of the bronchi, providing an immediate therapeutic effect. For inhalation with a nebulizer, a dosage form in the form of ampoules is suitable.

Reviews

For patients with bronchial asthma, inhalations with salbutamol and other drugs intended for the treatment of the respiratory tract are a necessary measure for survival and establishing a life close to normal. According to reviews, without an inhaler, people would not only be unable to work, perform their daily functions, but also live.