Proventil Warnings and Precautions

When it comes to Proventil, warnings and precautions to be aware of with the drug include those concerning the stimulatory effect the medication may have on the heart and blood pressure. Other issues to be aware of before taking Proventil concern the inhaler itself. For instance, you shouldn't puncture the inhaler or store it near open flame because its contents are under pressure.

 

Proventil: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Proventil® (albuterol inhaler) if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Some Proventil Warnings and Precautions

Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with Proventil include the following:
 
  • Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you are using Proventil more frequently than usual. Asthma symptoms can worsen very quickly and can become a medical emergency.
     
  • Using Proventil alone is rarely the best asthma treatment. Your healthcare provider should consider adding additional asthma medications.
     
  • Rarely, Proventil can cause a worsening of bronchospasms (spasms of the airways), which is exactly the opposite of what should happen. Tell your healthcare provider immediately if Proventil makes your asthma worse.
     
  • Proventil can have a stimulatory effect on the heart and blood pressure. Fast heart rate (tachycardia), high blood pressure (hypertension), and irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) may occur, although low blood pressure (hypotension) is also possible. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, make sure your healthcare provider is aware of it. He or she may wish to use particular caution if he or she recommends Proventil in your case.
     
  • People with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, or epilepsy should use caution when using Proventil, as the medication may worsen these conditions or increase the risk of side effects.
     
  • Do not puncture the Proventil canister or keep it near open flame, as the contents are under pressure.
     
  • Proventil can interact with other medications (see Proventil Drug Interactions).
     
  • Proventil is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that Proventil may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Proventil during pregnancy (see Proventil and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • It is not known if Proventil passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using Proventil (see Proventil and Breastfeeding for more information).
     
(Proventil Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;