During some illnesses, people may experience asthma attacks, which are extremely dangerous if they are not stopped on time. Bronchial asthma, obstructive bronchitis, chronic lung disease suggest the use of drugs that can be used in an emergency by the patient himself or his relatives. "Salbutamol" refers to such a drug. Instructions for use, reviews and analogues of the drug can be found in this article.
"Salbutamol": a description of the drug
Salbutamol is available in several forms for the convenience of patients. Since this is a drug that eliminates bronchospasm during asthma attacks, it is important that it be in a convenient and accessible “shell”. In world practice, the most popular format for aerosol inhalation, which can always be kept at hand, and if necessary, immediately use. A small aluminum spray can easily fit in your bag or even in your pocket. The dosage in such a container is 100 mg and contains about 100 doses.
Salbutamol is also available in powder form for use in conventional inhalers. For purchase, dosages of 200 and 400 mg / dose are presented. It is convenient to dilute the powder with saline and use it at home, when there is no need for haste, and there is a compressor inhaler at hand. Also, the drug can be purchased at the pharmacy in the form of tablets. They are less effective than inhalation with the drug, but may be needed in those conditions in which it is impossible to use an aerosol or inhaler. In addition, there are analogues of the drug, which can be found in the following forms:
- syrup;
- injections
- concentrate for administration through an intravenous dropper;
- capsules.
Pharmacology
The drug "Salbutamol" belongs to the category of bronchodilator agents. This term received its name from two Latin words: "bronchi" and "expansion". That is, bronchodilators have an expanding effect on the lungs, making breathing easier. This effect is achieved due to the composition of Salbutamol. Beta-adrenergic agonist has an effect on beta2-adrenergic receptors. When taken orally, the medicine is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, but food intake may affect absorption. Therefore, it is better to take it on an empty stomach. The action of β2-adrenergic receptor agonists of the walls of the bronchi has a short-term effect, during which the patency of the bronchial lumens improves. In addition, Salbutamol has a tocolytic effect, that is, it relaxes muscles and increases blood circulation. "Salbutamol" is a β2-agonist and causes an effective expansion of bronchioles, providing a quick and lasting result. That is why it is one of the most effective means for stopping bronchospasm.
These are the main, but not the only positive effects that can be obtained after taking the medicine. Salbutamol also helps achieve several more goals:
- reduce mucus secretion;
- relieve pulmonary edema;
- dry the inflamed bronchioles;
- increase lung capacity, which is involved in effective breathing.
After taking the medicine in the form of inhalation, the therapeutic effect is achieved instantly, within 5 minutes the patient becomes noticeably easier. But “Salbutamol” cannot be used as a prevention of asthmatic attacks, since its effect is not too prolonged. The duration of action is only 2-3 hours, while maximum efficiency is achieved in the first minutes. If you take the drug in the form of tablets, then the effect may be longer due to the gradual slow release of the active substance from under the tablet shell. Most of the active substance is excreted by the kidneys with the liquid, the remaining part leaves the body with bile.
"Salbutamol": instructions for use
This medicine may only be used in children older than 2 years. For adults and adolescents over 12 years of age, an individual dosage is selected as a result of the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease. But generally accepted dosages are:
- 100 mcg or a single dose of aerosol is used once in those cases when it is necessary to stop an attack of suffocation. If Salbutamol is used in complex therapy, for example, for the treatment of exacerbation of asthma or obstructive bronchitis, then the dosage of the drug is 400 mcg. They are divided into 4 doses, and several inhalations are obtained, usually with an interval of 6 hours. The daily dose should not exceed 800 mcg for an adult.
- Children from 6 to 12 years old require slightly less active substance, therefore their dosage is somewhat different. An aerosol of 100 micrograms is sufficient to relieve symptoms in an emergency. But during therapy, slightly different therapeutic doses may be relevant. 200 mcg 3 times a day is usually enough to support the child's body without obstruction, even in severe cases of the disease.
- For children from 2 to 6 years of age, “Salbutamol” is prescribed with caution, as a number of side effects may occur that are undesirable at this age. Therefore, doctors usually begin inhalation gradually, observing the reaction of the body. An acceptable dose for children is considered to be 100 mcg 2-3 times a day.
Instructions for use of Salbutamol are publicly available on the Internet, but we must not forget that self-medication can lead to side effects. It is best to consult a therapist for help and accurate dosage.
How to take Salbutamol
Since Salbutamol aerosol is quite simple to use, there are practically no questions about its use. In order to make inhalation using an aerosol, you need to sequentially do several actions:
- Uncover the inhaler and remove the cap from it.
- Take the bottle, tightly clasping it with the thumb and forefinger. When spraying, the spray must always be kept upright, in the desired position indicated on the package.
- Shake the bottle.
- Inhale while pressing the safety valve.
- Then hold your breath for as long as possible. During this, the active substance has time to penetrate the bronchi.
- Exhale slowly.
Since one spray can serves for a long time due to the large number of doses contained in it, it must be carefully taken care of. After each use, it must be washed with running warm water without soap. And once a week to arrange a complete disinfection. To do this, you can place the inhaler in a weak solution of furatsilin, dissolving 1 tablet in 200 ml of warm boiled water. After a night spent in such a “bath”, your inhaler will be cleaned of all fungi and bacteria, and it can again be used.
Salbutamol solution for inhalation needs to be used a little differently. Spraying the drug is possible only with the help of a compressor inhaler, which can transport particles of the substance to the farthest corners of the bronchi. The use of steam and ultrasonic devices is inefficient. Salbutamol should not be mixed with other drugs. An exception is saline, which must be diluted with a medicine. For inhalation, it is necessary to dilute Salbutamol with saline so that the volume of the prepared liquid reaches 3-5 ml.
When is Salbutamol prescribed?
Salbutamol is a serious medicine with many side effects. Therefore, its independent use without the supervision of a doctor can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition. The instructions for use of "Salbutamol" clearly states in which cases it is permissible to use a bronchodilator.
- "Salbutamol" is used to relieve bronchospasm in bronchial asthma or obstructive bronchitis. During these diseases, the lungs often begin to not cope with the mucus secreted in the bronchi. Bronchioles swell and narrow, and sputum further worsens the patient's condition. As a result, obstruction begins, which leads to hypoxia of the brain and other organs. In this case, it is important to provide emergency assistance, which may be the use of Salbutamol.
- Also, “Salbutamol” can be used during preterm birth. The fact is that the tocolytic effect is not only on the lungs, but also on all the smooth muscles in the human body. Therefore, when used in tablets, Salbutamol reduces uterine tone. But in this case, you need to weigh the pros and cons, since the effect of the drug on the fetus has not yet been fully studied.
- Occasionally, a medicine is also used as a prophylactic drug. For example, if a person knows for sure that during an important speech or playing sports he will have an attack of suffocation, he may immediately take a single dose of Salbutamol. There is an indication for this, but often it is not recommended to resort to such a method, since such measures can cause a number of side effects.
Who should not take the medicine?
Some people are strongly advised not to take Salbutamol in order to avoid serious disorders in the body. For example, pregnant women and children under two years of age taking this drug is contraindicated. What effect does Salbutamol have on pregnant women? With the threat of premature birth in the first trimesters, bleeding, placental abruption, the active substance in the drug can penetrate the blood and worsen the situation. With toxicosis or tachycardia, "Salbutamol" is also not used. In other cases, doctors allow the use of the drug, because pregnant women also have asthma. In this case, you need to understand that a choking attack is also harmful for the baby, and correlate all the pros and cons of taking the medicine. One or two doses of Salbutamol during an uncomplicated pregnancy should not harm the baby, but only your doctor can give the exact answer.
Also, "Salbutamol" in tablets and in any other form is contraindicated in children under two years of age. The fact is that beta2-adrenergic agonists cause not only a bronchodilating effect, but also a number of metabolic changes in the body. In particular, it affects the process of glycogen breakdown and widens the lumen of the coronary arteries of the heart. In addition, the side effects of Salbutamol are quite serious, so they prefer not to use the medicine for babies.
But pregnancy and childhood are not the only reasons for refusing to take the medicine. In some cases, doctors prefer to replace it with safer analogues:
- Heart or vascular malformations.
- Liver disease.
- Stenosis.
- Strokes and heart attacks.
- Eye diseases (glaucoma, cataract).
- Epileptic seizures.
- Renal failure.
What is the effect of salbutamol in this case? Typically, the drug worsens the general condition of the patient, but may not affect him in any way. Therefore, before taking the medicine, it is important to weigh all the pros and cons.
Side effects
Against the background of inhalations or taking “Salbutamol” in tablets, a number of negative reactions can be observed in patients. The side effect of Salbutamol is due to the fact that, penetrating the blood, it affects not only the bronchi directly, but also other organs of the human body. What side effects can appear in a patient?
- Irritation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus and throat can occur if a person accidentally swallows a part of the medicine while using the inhaler.
- Hand tremor, excessive tension appears in patients with individual intolerance to the components of the drug.
- Dizziness and headache may occur in case of overdose.
- Nausea, vomiting can be symptoms of an improperly selected dose.
- Muscle cramps and cramping.
- Allergic skin rashes are extremely rare.
- Cases of collapse and bronchospasm of the lungs, as well as hypotension, are also rare.
- Due to transient vasodilation in patients experiencing problems with the cardiovascular system, tachycardia and a worsening of the general condition can be observed.
Nevertheless, it is worth noting that with the correct use of the drug and the correctly calculated dosage, side effects are quite rare. Therefore, before using Salbutamol, it is important to consult a doctor. In case of drug overdose, it is necessary to take measures to stabilize the patient's condition as soon as possible. Pathogenetic therapy with control of the level of potassium ions in the blood can help.
Similar drugs
Many patients are interested in whether there are analogues of Salbutamol. The fact is that the cost of this medicine in the form of an aerosol is about 300 rubles. With the daily use of this drug, the amounts spent are quite large, so often people buy analogues. A similar structure and active substance has many drugs:
- "Aloprol" - is available in syrup, tablets and concentration for infusion. This drug is less convenient, since there is no option for inhalation. The cost is about 30 rubles.
- "Ventolin" - is one of the most popular analogues of "Salbutamol". This is a generic drug that has exactly the same composition and pharmacokinetics, is simply produced directly in Russia and has a more affordable cost.
- Salamol is a bronchodilating drug that is made in Ireland. Available in the form of an aerosol for inhalation and in the form of a suspension. Its cost is high - about 400 rubles, but it is slightly more efficient.
Salbutamol itself, under the same name, is produced by several manufacturing companies. In pharmacies, you can find the following options for this medicine:
- "Salbutamol AV" - production in Russia, the cost of 300 rubles.
- "Salbutamol-Pharmstandard" - the price in pharmacies starts from 120 rubles., The manufacturing company "Pharmstandard".
- "Salbutamol-Teva" - the cost of an aerosol is 130 rubles.
- "Salbutamol" manufactured by Moskhimpharmpreparat named after N.A. Semashko - was one of the most popular variants of this drug, but its release has recently been discontinued. The case was the chemical component that was used to produce Salbutamol. Chlorofluorocarbons violate the ozone layer and worsen the region’s environment, so a law was passed to stop the release of this medicine. The company management promises to solve this problem in the near future, but for now people have to buy products from other companies.
Salbutamol: patient reviews
On the Internet you can find positive and negative reviews about the drug. But there are more good ones. People write that he quickly stops bronchospasm and relieves an asthma attack. It is especially suitable for use on the road or if breathing has worsened at the most inopportune moment. To stop the manifestation of the disease, it is enough to take a couple of breaths of the drug, which consists in a convenient aerosol. Most patients observe relief in the first minutes. However, the medicine also has disadvantages. Reviews of "Salbutamol" indicate that with the inept use of harm from it can be much more than good. What other negative aspects can be found in Salbutamol?
- It is addictive: with constant stimulation of receptors, their sensitivity decreases, so it is not recommended to use Salbutamol for a long period.
- Many patients complain of a chemical taste in the mouth during inhalation.
- Short-term effect of the drug.
- Limitations that not everyone can use Salbutamol.
Experienced people also recommend that you check which company manufactured Salbutamol before buying. For example, if you take the drugs of the Altayvitamins companies and the Semashko aerosol that are identical at first glance, in the second one the amount of active substance will be almost two times more at the same cost. And this means that it will act faster, and the effect of it will last longer. Also, buyers are often interested in the question, is the hormonal Salbutamol or not? Doctors answer this unequivocally: there are no hormones in the medicine.
Summary
“Salbutamol” in syrup, tablets or in the form of an aerosol is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle for people prone to bronchospasm and asthma attacks. You can buy it in almost every pharmacy at a low price. In the instructions for use of "Salbutamol" aerosol, you can find the main dosage and sequence of inhalation. But nevertheless, only a doctor should prescribe this substance, so his visit is mandatory. – «» , .