Albuterol inhaler: how often? archived

meandtheboys

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:32pm

Youngest now has bronchitis as oldest is finally just recovering. We're in NJ this week so I was able to get him to our doctor--thank goodness. Doctor gave us a sample of the albuterol. But, since I don't have a prescription from the pharmacy with the dosage and frequency written on it, I immediately forgot how often the doctor said he should be using this.

And, lately, I am utterly unable to reach a human being at that office during office hours. It seems they may be having phone service issues. I left a message toward the end of the day asking them the question. Got no call back. Tried again and they're gone for the day.

I think the doctor said once every 4 hours? I want to get him on the road to recovery from this hideous cough and don't want to wait another day for an answer.

Anybody?

@bikefixed?

kareno

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:36pm

Whenever we have had it prescribed, it was never more than 2 times per day, usually one puff each time.

peteglider

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:36pm

hmm, as an adult, 2 puffs, 2x per day, when recovering from bronchitis and pneumonia.

I have no clue if that's usual or not. MATB, call the docs office and have the service page the doc -- be sure and safe about this.

leighan

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:37pm

is it an inhaler or a nebulizer?

Pellana

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:39pm

No more than 4x per day

gibberellin

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:40pm

Two puffs up to every four hours as needed. I would probably try to get him to use it at least twice daily so as to open up his airways and reduce the cough.

meandtheboys

Jul 26, 2012 at 12:46pm Edited

Inhaler.

Tried the "medical emergency" number earlier and got nowhere. Just tried again for the hell of it, and the doctor answered. So, I was right. Every 4 hours. He's due again at 7 so I really needed an answer from someone!

Thanks all.

Pellana

Jul 26, 2012 at 1:58pm

http://www.drugs.com/dosage/albuterol.html

Good page discusses ped dosage

phyllis

Jul 26, 2012 at 2:04pm

Both my kids are allowed to take two puffs every four hours as needed when their asthma is acting up post upper respiratory infection. If they need it more than that, I would call the doc (I know that is not working well right now, but for the future.) For my kids, it means they move on to steroids. They've also been given double doses at the doc's office when needed.

Also, our docs say to never wake them up to give them their inhaler. If they are sleeping, that's more important.

lisat

Jul 26, 2012 at 2:29pm

You could call a pharmacy and speak to a pharmacist.
We were told my son could have one puff every 20 minutes if he was coughing severely (nearly an emergency with almost non-stop coughing) but I would not do that without your doctor's permission. Two puffs every four hours was standard for him when recovering from an upper respiratory infection.

lisat

Jul 26, 2012 at 2:30pm

Oh, and it is much easier to use with an air chamber rather than the inhaler alone. Do you have an air chamber?

meandtheboys

Jul 26, 2012 at 3:31pm

Yep. I think the doctor called it an "extender?"

doulamomma

Jul 26, 2012 at 3:37pm

"spacer" I think. Just beware that the samples don't have as much in them as one you buy, so maybe have an rx called in if he's still needing it after a few days

algebra2

Jul 26, 2012 at 3:54pm

Didn't read whole thread but same doc and same age boy who had same cough and was given inhaler - it was two puffs twice a day.

debby

Jul 26, 2012 at 4:12pm

Please be on the lookout for signs of anxiety. It doesn't usually happen, but it is also not rare.

Good luck!

PeterWick

Jul 26, 2012 at 4:30pm

algebra2 said:
Didn't read whole thread but same doc and same age boy who had same cough and was given inhaler - it was two puffs twice a day.

Might have been a different medicine in the inhaler. Some bronchodilators are strictly twice-a-day only. Salmeterol is one. Albuterol is one that is used more frequently and is indicated for more frequent use in emergency situations.

mammabear

Jul 26, 2012 at 5:50pm

bikefixed said:
algebra2 said:
Didn't read whole thread but same doc and same age boy who had same cough and was given inhaler - it was two puffs twice a day.
Might have been a different medicine in the inhaler. Some bronchodilators are strictly twice-a-day only. Salmeterol is one. Albuterol is one that is used more frequently and is indicated for more frequent use in emergency situations.

Asthma over here. I was told that albuterol inhaler can be used up to three times (in a row) if emergency situation. same is true of nebulizer, which is same meds but delivered differently. I've done two treatments in a row in a pinch.

@Bikefixed, please confirm?

PeterWick

Jul 26, 2012 at 5:55pm

Yes, the way albuterol works is going to allow it to be used more frequently in an emergency situation. What 2 or 3 times in a row means is a little fuzzy. How long between double puffs or treatments? What technique was used? Unfortunately I gotta get some sleep now so I won't be able to stay up for the answer.

leighan

Jul 27, 2012 at 5:04am

we have an albuterol nebulizer. we were told to use it every four hours.
we did have to make an ER visit for the breathing issue though, and they just did two treatments back-to-back.

PeggyC

Jul 27, 2012 at 5:28am

My doctor stressed that when you use the albuterol inhaler, you must use it twice. She (this was Ellen Garibaldi) said that if you just take one puff, it won't do much at all for you.

You exhale every bit of air in your lungs quite forcefully, then wrap your lips around the mouthpiece so it is inside your teeth and you're getting a good seal, and press the inhaler to release the medication. Inhale strongly through the mouth until you can't inhale any more, then HOLD that breath while counting to 10. Release the breath, wait a few seconds, and repeat the process.

PeggyC

Jul 27, 2012 at 5:29am Edited

That is for a single dose. You can take up to four doses a day under standard adult Rx.

mammabear

Jul 27, 2012 at 6:07am

leighan said:
we have an albuterol nebulizer. we were told to use it every four hours.
we did have to make an ER visit for the breathing issue though, and they just did two treatments back-to-back.

Yes, I was told that 3 treatments back to back is the max, and only in an emergency.

jerseyjen724

Jul 27, 2012 at 1:41pm

I've had asthma my entire life and have been hospitalized for it three times. My doctor always told me that if I had to use albuterol more than every four hours to get relief, I should contact him if I felt a little tightness and call 911 if the symptoms were more severe. I've only needed to call 911 once.

Peggy C, I believe that one should wait a full minute before repeating the inhalation.