What Is Albuterol Solution?
Albuterol solution is a prescription medication used to treat airway spasms (called bronchospasms). Bronchospasms are most common in people with
asthma, but can also occur in people with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and
emphysema. Albuterol solution is used in a nebulizer, a device that changes liquid medications into fine droplets that are inhaled into the lungs.
Different Albuterol Solutions
There are several different albuterol solutions. These albuterol solutions include:
- Albuterol 0.083 percent (2.5 mg per 3 mL) single-use vials
- Albuterol 0.021 percent (0.63 mg per 3 mL) single-use vials (Accuneb®)
- Albuterol 0.042 percent (1.25 mg per 3 mL single-use vials (Accuneb)
- Albuterol 0.5 percent (5 mg per mL) multi-use vials (Proventil®).
How Does Albuterol Solution Work?
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways. However, during an
asthma attack, the muscles around these airways tighten. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe. This is called a bronchospasm.
Albuterol is part of a class of drugs called beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short. Beta agonists stimulate beta receptors in the body, including those on the muscles around the airways. This stimulation causes the muscles to relax, which opens up the airways and allows more air to get into and through the lungs.
Albuterol also has some effects on decreasing the activity of mast cells in the lungs, which play an important role in inflammation and allergic reactions.
