Proair hfa how does it work

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. To help prevent or treat an episode of bronchospasm , the dosage is the same for the three forms of ProAir.

A bronchospasm is a tightening of the airways. The recommended ProAir dosage to help prevent or treat bronchospasm is two puffs every 4 to 6 hours if needed. ProAir is a rescue inhaler , which means you use it only when you need to breathe easier because of bronchospasm. If you use ProAir more than 2 days per week, talk with your doctor. Maintenance medication works long term to help prevent bronchospasm. To help prevent bronchospasm from occurring while exercising, the dosage is the same for the three forms of ProAir mentioned above.

ProAir is approved for use in children ages 4 years and older. The dosages are the same as those for adults. ProAir is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. But it is often only used as needed for symptoms of bronchospasm. ProAir can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while using ProAir. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of ProAir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. ProAir is meant to open up your airways and make it easier to breathe. But sometimes after taking a dose your airways may tighten up. This can make it difficult to breathe. If you develop paradoxical bronchospasm, talk with your doctor right away. If you have difficulty breathing after taking a dose of ProAir, call or your local emergency number, or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you have any questions about paradoxical bronchospasm and ProAir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The use of ProAir may cause heart problems, such as increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Heart problems are a common side effect that may occur in people using this medication. Symptoms of tachycardia fast heart rate may include:.

If you develop any of these symptoms while using ProAir, talk with your doctor right away. Your doctor may switch you to a different medication to help with your breathing. If your symptoms feel serious, call or your local emergency number, or go to your nearest emergency room. If you have questions about an increased heart rate and ProAir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after using ProAir. A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to ProAir, as the reaction could become severe. ProAir may also be used off-label for other conditions. ProAir is a rescue inhaler , which is a short-acting medication.

Bronchospasm is a tightening of your airways, which can make it difficult for you to breathe. Symptoms of bronchospasm may include:. Reversible obstructive airway diseases are conditions that can cause trouble breathing for a time. These conditions include asthma , emphysema , and chronic bronchitis.

ProAir is an effective treatment option for people who experience bronchospasm. The Global Initiative for Asthma GINA recommends the use of drugs called short-acting beta agonists for people who have bronchospasm due to asthma. ProAir is a type of short-acting beta agonist. All forms of ProAir are approved for use in children ages 4 years and older to treat the same conditions as in adults. These drugs can include maintenance medications, which help prevent bronchospasm from occurring.

Examples of maintenance inhalers that you may use in combination with ProAir include:. There are also oral medications that may help reduce your risk for bronchospasm or treat swelling in your airways.

Your doctor may recommend that you take them in combination with a ProAir inhaler to treat your condition. Examples of these oral medications include:. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. ProAir can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects.

For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with ProAir. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with ProAir. Before using ProAir, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Safety first. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Especially tell your doctor if you take: Other inhaled medicines or asthma medicines Beta-blocker medicines Diuretics Digoxin Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Tricyclic antidepressants Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Paradoxical bronchospasm is more likely to happen with your first use of a new canister of medicine. Call your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: Itchy skin Swelling beneath your skin or in your throat Rash Low potassium levels in your blood Worsening of other medical problems, including increases in blood sugar.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Active ingredient: albuterol sulfate Inactive ingredients: propellant HFAa and ethanol.

If this happens, stop using ProAir HFA and call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away. Dispose of the powder inhaler 13 months after you open the foil wrapper, after the expiration date on the package, or after you have used the labeled number of inhalation, whichever comes first. Your inhaler may come with an attached counter that keeps track of the number of inhalations you have used. The counter also tells you when to call your doctor or pharmacist to refill your prescription and when there are no inhalations left in the inhaler.

Read the manufacturer's instructions to learn how to use the counter. If you have this type of inhaler, you should not try to change the numbers or remove the counter from the inhaler. If your inhaler does not come with an attached counter, you will need to keep track of the number of inhalations you have used.

You can divide the number of inhalations in your inhaler by the number of inhalations you use each day to find out how many days your inhaler will last.

Do not float the canister in water to see if it still contains medication. The inhaler that comes with albuterol aerosol is designed for use only with a canister of albuterol. Never use it to inhale any other medication, and do not use any other inhaler to inhale albuterol. Do not use your albuterol inhaler when you are near a flame or source of heat. The inhaler may explode if it is exposed to very high temperatures.

Before you use albuterol inhaler or jet nebulizer for the first time, read the written instructions that come with the inhaler or nebulizer. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use it. Practice using the inhaler or nebulizer while he or she watches. If your child will be using the inhaler, be sure that he or she knows how to use it.

Watch your child each time he or she uses the inhaler to be sure that he or she is using it correctly. Inhaled albuterol is also sometimes used to treat or improve muscle paralysis inability to move parts of the body in patients with a condition that causes attacks of paralysis.

Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If you have been told to use albuterol inhalation on a regular schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember it.

However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not use a double dose to make up for a missed one. Albuterol inhalation may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.

Keep unused vials of nebulizer solution in the foil pouch until you are ready to use them. Store nebulizer solution vials in the refrigerator or at room temperature away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. Store the the inhaler at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom.

Do not puncture the aerosol canister, and do not discard it in an incinerator or fire. Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.

To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Do not let anyone else use your medication.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Albuterol Oral Inhalation pronounced as al byoo' ter ole.

Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause?