Maxair Uses

Maxair uses are focused on the prevention and treatment of asthma attacks. However, the medication can also be used to treat bronchospasm caused by other lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The drug is approved for use in adults and children ages 12 and over. Off-label Maxair uses may include the prevention of exercise-induced asthma.

 

An Introduction to Maxair Uses

Maxair® (pirbuterol acetate) is a prescription medication used to treat asthma and other similar lung problems. It is part of a class of asthma drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short.
 

Maxair for Bronchospasm in Asthma or COPD

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways, which are the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they narrow and less air flows to your lungs. This is called bronchospasm. It causes asthma symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, tightness in the chest, and trouble breathing.
 
While there is no asthma cure, asthma can be controlled. There are many different asthma treatments, and Maxair represents one of the most basic and most important types of treatment for asthma relief. Maxair is a "rescue" asthma inhaler, which can help improve breathing very quickly. Even if you take asthma controller medications, it is important to always have a rescue asthma medication available to relieve an attack.
 
Maxair is approved to both treat and prevent asthma attacks. Because Maxair is short-acting, it is not necessarily the best asthma medication for preventing asthma attacks in general. However, it is an excellent medication for treating asthma attacks.
 
Asthma is not the only cause of bronchospasm. Maxair can also treat bronchospasm due to other lung problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
 
(Maxair Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;