Albuterol

Aliases: Ventolin, Proventil, Proair 

Indications: Bronchospasm with or without wheezing, hyperkalemia 

Contraindications:  None in the emergency setting

Concentrations: 

Nebulization: 2.5mg/3mL (prefilled)

Dosing

Adult:

Indication	Dose	Route	Note
Bronchospasm	5 mg	Nebulized	May repeat every 5 mins (no limit)
Hyperkalemia	10-20 mg	Nebulized	Continuous as needed

Pediatric:

Indication	Dose	Route	Note
Bronchospasm	2.5 mg	Nebulized	May repeat every 5 mins (no limit)
Hyperkalemia	10 mg	Nebulized	Continuous as needed

Precautions: None

Adverse/Side Effects: Palpitations, Tachycardia, Anxiety, Nervousness, Dizziness, HA, Tremor, N/V, Less frequent HTN, Dysrhythmias, Chest Pain   

Class: Beta₂ Agonist, Sympathomimetic 

Mechanism of Action:

Acts selectively on Beta₂ receptor sites in the lungs, relaxing bronchial smooth muscle, decreasing airway resistance, relief of bronchospasm, and drives potassium intracellularly. Although Albuterol is beta selective, it will cause some CNS stimulation, cardiac stimulation, increased diuresis, & gastric acid secretion. 

Onset of Action	Peak Effect	Duration of Action
< 5 minutes	30 minutes	3 to 6 hours