An albuterol inhaler is used to treat and prevent asthma attacks. It can also be used to treat and prevent airway spasms in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There are a variety of albuterol inhalers available, including old inhalers made with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and new, environmentally friendly inhalers. When you use an albuterol inhaler during an asthma attack, it usually starts working within 6 to 15 minutes; you can also use the inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before exercise to help prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms.
An albuterol inhaler is a prescription medication used to treat or prevent 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 inhalers are also approved to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks.
(Click Albuterol Inhaler Uses for more information on what albuterol inhalers are used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Different Albuterol Inhalers
There are many different albuterol inhalers. Some are equivalent to each other, while others are not. Older inhalers are made using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as the propellants, while newer inhalers use hydrofluoroalkane (HFA), an environmentally friendly propellant. The older inhalers include:
Generic albuterol inhalers (equivalent to Ventolin).
These older inhalers cannot be produced or sold after December 31, 2008, due to concerns that CFCs deplete the ozone layer (see Environmentally Friendly Albuterol Inhaler). Newer albuterol inhalers include:
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