Albuterol (Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, Proair HFA) is a generic prescription medication. It’s used in adults and certain children to treat and prevent bronchospasm due to asthma and other conditions. Albuterol is typically taken long term as needed. The active drug, albuterol sulfate, is classified as a short-acting beta-agonist.

Albuterol comes as a metered aerosol that you inhale (inhalation aerosol). Albuterol also comes as an oral tablet, oral syrup, and liquid solution that’s inhaled, but this article doesn’t cover these forms. As with other drugs, albuterol can cause side effects.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects (also known as adverse effects). For a general overview of albuterol metered aerosol, including details about its uses, refer to this article. Your doctor can also tell you more about the medication.

Albuterol metered aerosol can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few hours to days. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took albuterol metered aerosol in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Albuterol: Side effect specifics” section below.

Mild side effects can occur with albuterol metered aerosol. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with albuterol metered aerosol include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few hours to days. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking albuterol and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Albuterol: Side effect specifics” section below.

Albuterol metered aerosol may cause serious side effects. However, the drug’s clinical trials showed that serious side effects are rare when albuterol metered aerosol is taken as prescribed. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects with albuterol metered aerosol, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Albuterol: Side effect specifics” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking albuterol. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Albuterol: Side effect specifics” section below.

Albuterol metered aerosol may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do the side effects of albuterol inhaler compare with albuterol nebulizer?

The side effects of albuterol inhalers (also called inhalation aerosols) and albuterol nebulizers* are similar. These medications deliver the same active drug to your body by inhalation through the mouth.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like more information about side effects with these medications.

* A nebulizer is a device that turns a liquid medication into a mist for inhalation into the lungs.

Will older adults experience different side effects of albuterol than younger adults?

It’s unclear whether albuterol side effects are different in older adults (ages 65 years and older) and other adults. This is because clinical trials of albuterol metered aerosol didn’t include many older adults.

However, older adults may experience more frequent or severe drug side effects than other adults. This is because of how the body changes as people age. In some cases, doctors recommend lower albuterol dosages for older adults at the start of treatment. This may help reduce the risk of side effects from the drug.

If you’d like more information about albuterol’s side effects in older adults, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I use albuterol with ipratropium? Will using the drugs together cause different side effects?

Yes, you can take albuterol with ipratropium with your doctor’s recommendation. Both drugs belong to a drug class called bronchodilators. However, ipratropium works differently than albuterol. So, taking the drugs together may cause different side effects than either drug alone.

Ipratropium is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Atrovent HFA, which is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (A generic version of the metered aerosol inhaler isn’t available.)

Albuterol is the active ingredient in the generic medication albuterol metered aerosol (Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, Proair HFA). Albuterol metered aerosol is used to treat bronchospasm due to COPD, asthma, and exercise.

Also, the active drugs are available as a combination drug called Combivent Respimat (albuterol/ipratropium). This drug is used to treat COPD.

If you have questions about side effects from taking both drugs together, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does albuterol cause long-term side effects?

No, taking albuterol metered aerosol isn’t known to cause long-term side effects. Typically, its side effects are temporary, lasting a few hours to days. However, if you experience side effects that last longer than that or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What are the overdose symptoms of albuterol?

Overdose symptoms of albuterol metered aerosol can include:

In rare cases, albuterol overdose can cause death.

Call your doctor if you believe you’ve taken too much albuterol. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Overdose with albuterol metered aerosol is rare. However, taking more than the amount your doctor prescribes can lead to overdose. To learn more about overdose, see this article.

Learn more about some of the side effects that albuterol metered aerosol may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Increased blood pressure

Taking albuterol metered aerosol may cause increases in blood pressure, which may lead to high blood pressure. Typically, high blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms unless it’s very high. Symptoms of very high blood pressure can include:

Increased blood pressure rarely occurred in clinical trials of albuterol metered aerosol. However, if you have high blood pressure before starting the drug, you may have an increased risk of this side effect during treatment.

What you can do

If you’re concerned about increased blood pressure from albuterol, talk with your doctor. They may recommend monitoring your blood pressure regularly during albuterol treatment. You can do this at home with a blood pressure monitor.

If you have frequent high blood pressure readings, talk with your doctor. If you develop high blood pressure, your doctor will likely treat it so that you can safely take albuterol for bronchospasm.

In some cases, doctors recommend a different medication for bronchospasm. This depends on how well blood pressure is managed.

Headache

Headache was one of the most common side effects reported in clinical trials of albuterol metered aerosol. However, headaches didn’t lead people to stop treatment with the drug.

Headache symptoms can include pain affecting one or both sides of your head. The pain may be dull, sharp, or throbbing.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you experience bothersome or frequent headaches with albuterol metered aerosol. Your doctor will check your symptoms and may be able to determine the cause. They can also suggest ways to relieve them. Medications that may be able to relieve the pain include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Paradoxical bronchospasm

Albuterol metered aerosol may cause paradoxical bronchospasm. This is a bronchospasm that occurs after taking a dose of the medication, which is used to treat bronchospasm. It isn’t clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. The drug’s manufacturer warns that this side effect is more likely to occur with the first inhalation from a new albuterol metered aerosol.

Symptoms of paradoxical bronchospasm can include worsening:

Albuterol is typically taken to help with breathing, so paradoxical bronchospasm can be life threatening.

What you can do

Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

If you experience paradoxical bronchospasm, your doctor will likely stop your treatment.

Low potassium levels

Albuterol metered aerosol may cause low potassium levels (also called hypokalemia). With hypokalemia, the level of potassium in your blood is lower than usual. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of the drug. It was reported in some people after the drug was approved for use.

Symptoms of low potassium can include:

Typically, taking albuterol metered aerosol won’t lower your potassium to a level that’s concerning. And this side effect is often temporary and doesn’t typically require treatment from a doctor. However, in rare cases, potassium falls too low. The risk increases if albuterol metered aerosol is taken too much or too often (which may lead to an overdose). If potassium levels get too low, it can cause life threatening side effects that can affect the heart.

What you can do

Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your potassium level at your next regular checkup. However, if you experience symptoms of low potassium, talk with your doctor right away. Your doctor will check your potassium level and may recommend other tests.

Sore throat

Some people reported a sore throat during clinical trials of albuterol metered aerosol. Sore throat was a common side effect but didn’t lead trial participants to stop taking the drug.

A sore throat may be due to irritation from the medication. As you take a dose, the medication passes your throat on the way to your lungs. If some of the medication stays in your throat, it may cause pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat). Incorrect inhaler use may increase the risk of sore throat because more medication stays in your throat.

What you can do

If you experience a sore throat after you take a dose, tell your doctor. They may check your inhalation technique.* Your doctor may also recommend a device called a spacer. It allows you to inhale albuterol more slowly and directly into your lungs. A spacer helps reduce the risk of the medication getting stuck in your throat.

* For details about how to use albuterol metered aerosol, see this article.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, albuterol can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. There have been reports of severe allergic reaction from albuterol metered aerosol after the drug was approved for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking albuterol metered aerosol. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take albuterol metered aerosol. This drug may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Heart-related conditions. Albuterol metered aerosol may increase the risk of heart-related side effects in people with heart-related conditions. If you have a heart condition, such as high blood pressure, talk with your doctor. They’ll help determine whether albuterol metered aerosol is right for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to albuterol or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe albuterol metered aerosol. Taking it could cause you to have another allergic reaction. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Seizures. If you’ve ever had a seizure, taking albuterol metered aerosol may increase the risk of seizures. So before starting albuterol metered aerosol, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had a seizure. They’ll advise whether the drug is right for you.

Diabetes. Albuterol metered aerosol treatment may make it harder to manage blood sugar levels. So, if you have a history of diabetes, talk with your doctor before starting albuterol. They’ll determine whether the medication is safe for you. It may depend on how well your diabetes is managed.

Hyperthyroidism. Taking albuterol metered aerosol may worsen hyperthyroidism. So, if you have an overactive thyroid, talk with your doctor before starting the drug. They can help determine if albuterol is safe for you.

Alcohol with albuterol

It’s not known whether alcohol interacts with albuterol. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking albuterol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking albuterol

It isn’t known whether albuterol metered aerosol is safe to take during pregnancy. This is because the drug’s clinical trials didn’t include pregnant people. Animal studies showed that albuterol increased the risk of harm to developing offspring. However, results from animal studies don’t always predict what would happen in humans.

If you’re pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting albuterol. They can help determine whether albuterol is right for you.

If you become pregnant during albuterol treatment, tell your doctor. They’ll help determine whether you should continue taking the drug during pregnancy. Also, they may encourage you to enroll in a pregnancy safety registry. A pregnancy registry collects information on how a drug affects pregnancy. It also helps doctors find out how safe albuterol is for use during pregnancy. You may register for the MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies by calling 877-311-8972 or visiting online.

It isn’t known whether albuterol is safe to take while breastfeeding. For more information, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether albuterol is right for you.

If you’d like to learn more about albuterol metered aerosol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

A generic drug and its brand-name version contain the same active ingredient, so they’re expected to have the same side effects. Referring to the following articles about albuterol metered aerosol, Ventolin HFA, and ProAir HFA can provide you with additional information:

  • More information about albuterol. For details about other aspects of albuterol metered aerosol, refer to this article.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about albuterol and cost, see this article.
  • A look at your condition. For details about asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), see our asthma and allergies hub and COPD hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.