Proventil

Proventil is commonly used to prevent or treat airway spasms in people with asthma or certain other conditions. The medication comes in the form of an inhaler and is part of a class of drugs called beta-adrenergic receptor agonists. It stimulates beta receptors in the body, which helps the muscles around the airways relax and allows more air to get into and through the lungs. Possible side effects include shakiness, nausea, and nervousness.

 

What Is Proventil?

Proventil® (albuterol inhaler) is a prescription medication used to treat or prevent airway spasms (called bronchospasms). These 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. Proventil is also approved to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks.
 
(Click Proventil Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 
Proventil comes in an inhaler. However, the traditional inhaler is being replaced by Proventil® HFA, a more environmentally friendly albuterol inhaler. A solution for use in a nebulizer is also available.
 
(This article focuses on the traditional Proventil inhaler, which will no longer be available after December 2008. For more information on the new, environmentally friendly inhaler, see Proventil HFA.)
 

Who Makes It?

Proventil is made by Schering-Plough Corporation.
 

How Does Proventil 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.
 
Proventil 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.
 
Proventil also has some effects on decreasing the activity of mast cells in the lungs, which play an important role in inflammation and allergic reactions.
 
(Proventil Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;