What Is Levalbuterol HFA?
Who Makes Levalbuterol HFA?
Levalbuterol HFA is made by Sepracor Inc.
How Does Levalbuterol HFA Work?
Normally, air moves easily into and out of the lungs through a network of airways, but during an
asthma attack, the muscles around these airways tighten. This narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe. This is called bronchospasm.
Levalbuterol HFA 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 airways. This stimulation causes the muscles to relax, which opens up the airways and allows more air to get into and through the lungs. Levalbuterol HFA also has some effects on decreasing the activity of mast cells in the lungs, which play an important role in inflammation and allergic reactions.
Levalbuterol HFA is similar to another medication called
albuterol. Levalbuterol HFA contains the active form of the albuterol molecule, while albuterol products contain both the inactive and active forms of the molecule.