Salbutamol in asthma

Salbutamol is used to treat respiratory diseases such as  asthma  and  COPD  . The active ingredient expands the bronchi and can thus counteract the typical breathing problems. But salbutamol also has side effects: headaches, palpitations and a feeling of restlessness can occur during treatment. Find out more about the effects, side effects and dosage of Salbutamol here. 

Salbutamol in asthma and COPD

Salbutamol belongs to the group of beta-2 sympathomimetics. The active ingredient expands constricted bronchi and makes it easier to cough up mucus. That is why salbutamol is used to treat respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma or COPD. In these diseases, the active ingredient also reduces inflammatory and/or allergic reactions in the bronchi. 

In asthma, the active ingredient is also used to treat asthma attacks that are triggered by physical exertion. It is also used to prevent asthma attacks caused by predictable allergen exposure. 

Side Effects of Salbutamol

Whether, how often and how severe which side effects occur with salbutamol also depends on the dosage form.

When used as a spray , salbutamol   can occasionally cause side effects, such as:

• headache
• palpitations
• Tremble
• restlessness

Muscle cramps can also occur very rarely.

Slightly more severe side effects are to be expected when taking  tablets  . The following symptoms are often noticeable here:

• headache
• Tremble
• palpitations
• muscle cramps
• restlessness

However, these usually only occur after taking the tablets for a long time. 

Occasionally  , taste disorders, dizziness,  sweating  and  nausea  may also occur. Elevated blood sugar levels and lower potassium levels are also possible.

Heartburn ,  cardiac arrhythmia , heart pain, blood pressure disorders and problems with urination can occur  very  rarely . In a few cases,  sleep disturbances  and hallucinations have also been observed.

Dosage of Salbutamol

Salbutamol is available in different dosage forms. The active substance is available, among other things, as a tablet, as a solution for inhalation, as a suspension and as capsules with powder for  inhalation . Depending on the dosage form, Salbutamol can be taken via a metered dose aerosol. With such a device, the spray is delivered in portioned doses. 

Please always consult with your treating doctor how exactly Salbuatmol is to be dosed for you. Therefore, please consider the following dosages as general guidelines only:

• Suspension:  A single dose for adults is 0.1 to 0.2 milligrams of salbutamol, which is usually one to two sprays. No more than 0.8 milligrams should be taken daily. For children, a single dose is 0.1 milligrams, the maximum daily dose is 0.4 milligrams. 
• Inhalation powder:  A single dose is between 0.1 and 0.2 milligrams for adults and 0.1 milligrams for children. If a bronchial spasm or shortness of breath that occurs in adults cannot be relieved by two single doses five to ten minutes apart, you should seek medical help. Adults should not exceed a daily dose of 0.8 milligrams. 
• Inhalation solution:  If the inhalation solution is taken up via a nebulizer, the single dose for adults is 1.25 to 2.5 milligrams and for children 0.25 to 0.5 milligrams per year of life. However, a dose of 2 milligrams must not be exceeded in children. If the symptoms of a bronchial spasm or acute shortness of breath still do not improve, a second single dose can be administered after five to ten minutes. Adults should not take more than 15 milligrams per day, children no more than 7.5 milligrams. 
• Tablets:  Children can take 4 milligrams in the morning and evening, adults 8 milligrams each. 

Overdose is dangerous

When dosing Salbutamol, it is important that you stick to the dose agreed with the doctor treating you. If a significantly higher dose is taken without consultation, side effects such as sleep disorders, restlessness, tremors, chest pain and an accelerated heartbeat can occur. These side effects can sometimes be life-threatening. Therefore, always consult a doctor immediately in the event of an overdose.

If your condition worsens from taking Salbutamol, you should stop treatment immediately and contact your doctor. The same applies if there is a general deterioration in the condition or no satisfactory improvement. Then the treatment plan must be reconsidered and other drugs (e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs) may have to be taken. If this is already the case, a dose may need to be adjusted.

Interactions of Salbutamol

Salbutamol must not be  taken at the same time as beta- blockers  (beta-receptor blockers), since the substances weaken each other’s effects. This can trigger severe bronchial spasms in asthmatic patients.

Salbutamol kann außerdem die blutzuckersenkende Wirkung von Antidiabetika abschwächen. Allerdings ist mit diesem Effekt normalerweise erst bei sehr hohen Dosen zu rechnen. Wird Salbutamol gemeinsam mit anderen Beta-2-Sympathomimetika eingenommen, ist eine gegenseitige Wirkungsverstärkung möglich.

Daneben kann es noch mit einer Reihe anderer Wirkstoffe und Medikamente zu Wechselwirkungen kommen. Zu diesen zählen unter anderem:

• Antiarrhythmetika
• Parkinsonmittel
• Herzglykoside
• Mutterkornalkaloide
• Antidepressiva wie MAO-Hemmer
• trizyklische Antidepressiva
• L-Thyroxin
• Oxytocin
• Procarbazin
• Alkohol

Wenn Sie eine Narkose bekommen, sollten Sie darauf achten, dass das Narkosemittel keine halogenierten Anästhetika enthält. Wird ein solches Mittel verwendet, sollte Salbutamol mindestens sechs Stunden vor der Narkose nicht mehr eingenommen werden.

Salbutamol: Gegenanzeigen

Salbutamol darf nicht eingenommen werden, wenn eine Überempfindlichkeit gegen den Wirkstoff vorliegt. Bei einer Überempfindlichkeit gegen andere Beta-2-Sympathomimetika ist Salbutamol nur unter Vorsicht anzuwenden.

Ebenso darf der Wirkstoff auch in den folgenden Fällen nur nach einer sorgfältigen Nutzen-Risiko-Analyse eingenommen werden:

• Arteriosklerose
• Schwerer, unbehandelter Bluthochdruck
• Gefäßaussackungen (Aneurysmen)
• Tumor im Nebennierenmark
• Schilddrüsenüberfunktion
• Instabiler Diabetes mellitus
• Kaliummangel

Auch bei bestimmten Erkrankungen des Herzens darf Salbutamol nur unter Vorsicht eingenommen werden. Dazu zählen unter anderem Erkrankungen oder Entzündungen des Herzmuskels, Herzrhythmusstörungen, Erkrankungen der Herzkranzgefäße sowie ein frischer Herzinfarkt. Auch bei der Einnahme von Herzglykosiden ist Vorsicht geboten.

Salbutamol als Dopingsubstanz

Salbutamol gehört zu der Gruppe der Beta-2-Agonisten, die zu den Dopingsubstanzen zählen. Allerdings stellt Salbutamol eine Ausnahme dar: Bis zu einer Dosis von 1600 Mikrogamm pro 24 Stunden, darf Salbutamol auch im Wettkampf als Therapeutikum eingenommen werden. Seine Einnahme muss allerding als medizinisch notwendig bestätigt sein.

Salbutamol muss zudem vor dem Wettkampf in den Doping-Kontrollformular eingetragen werden.

Salbutamol in Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit

Salbutamol crosses the placenta and can therefore cause side effects in the unborn child. For this reason, the active ingredient should only be used after a careful benefit-risk analysis, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, salbutamol should then be inhaled rather than taken in capsule form. The active ingredient should also not be used shortly before birth, as it can have a labor-inhibiting effect. 

Salbutamol is believed to be excreted in breast milk. For this reason, the active ingredient may only be prescribed to breastfeeding mothers after a careful risk-benefit analysis.

Salbutamol in children

Children should get the active ingredient as a spray if possible and not in tablet form. In children under 20 months, the effect may be weaker or even non-existent.