Home Drug Guide Albuterol Sulfate; Budesonide

Drug Guide

Generic Name

Albuterol Sulfate; Budesonide

Brand Names Airsupra

Classification

Therapeutic: Asthma and COPD agent

Pharmacological: Bronchodilator (Albuterol), Corticosteroid (Budesonide)

FDA Approved Indications

  • Prevention and treatment of bronchospasm in asthma and COPD

Mechanism of Action

Albuterol is a beta-2 adrenergic agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, leading to bronchodilation. Budesonide is a corticosteroid that reduces airway inflammation by inhibiting multiple types of inflammatory cells and cytokines.

Dosage and Administration

Adult: Inhalation, 2 inhalations every 4 to 6 hours as needed. For maintenance, once or twice daily based on severity.

Pediatric: Dosing varies by age and severity; typically, 2 inhalations 2 times daily, with adjustments as directed by a healthcare provider.

Geriatric: Adjust dose based on response and tolerability; monitor for cardiovascular effects.

Renal Impairment: Use with caution; no specific dose adjustment required.

Hepatic Impairment: Use with caution; no specific dose adjustment required.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Rapid for albuterol, variable for budesonide.

Distribution: Wide distribution; high first-pass metabolism for budesonide.

Metabolism: Albuterol is minimally metabolized; budesonide undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver.

Excretion: Renally excreted; approximately 70% of inhaled dose of budesonide is metabolized.

Half Life: Albuterol: approximately 3-5 hours; Budesonide: 2-4 hours (plasma half-life), but effects last longer.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to albuterol or budesonide

Precautions

  • Use with caution in patients with hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids; monitor for systemic corticosteroid effects; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; osteoporosis; fungal or bacterial infections of the respiratory tract.

Adverse Reactions - Common

  • Throat irritation (Common)
  • Cough (Common)
  • Hoarseness (Common)

Adverse Reactions - Serious

  • Paradoxical bronchospasm (Uncommon)
  • Oral candidiasis (Uncommon)
  • Adrenal suppression (with high doses) (Rare)

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, other sympathomimetics, beta-blockers, CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole)

Drug-Food Interactions

  • Caffeine may increase side effects such as tremors or palpitations.

Drug-Herb Interactions

N/A

Nursing Implications

Assessment: Assess lung function (e.g., auscultation, PEF, FEV1), monitor for adverse reactions.

Diagnoses:

  • Impaired gas exchange,

Implementation: Administer via inhalation device as prescribed; instruct patient on proper inhaler technique; monitor for adverse effects.

Evaluation: Evaluate improvement in respiratory symptoms; monitor for adverse effects such as tachycardia or oral thrush.

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Instruct patient on proper inhaler technique.
  • Advise to rinse mouth after inhalation to reduce oral candidiasis.
  • Inform about possible side effects and when to seek medical attention.

Special Considerations

Black Box Warnings:

  • Potential for systemic corticosteroid effects with inhaled corticosteroids, especially at high doses.

Genetic Factors: None specified.

Lab Test Interference: None significant.

Overdose Management

Signs/Symptoms: Severe tachycardia, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, tremors.

Treatment: Supportive care; monitor cardiac and respiratory status; administer potassium if hypokalemia is severe.

Storage and Handling

Storage: Store at room temperature, 15-30°C (59-86°F).

Stability: Stable until expiration date on packaging.

🛡️ 5 Critical Medication Safety Tips for Nurses

1

Triple-Check High-Risk Medications

Always have another nurse verify insulin, heparin, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs. These "high-alert" medications cause the most serious errors. Check concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings twice.

2

Know Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Drugs

Common mix-ups: hydromorphone/morphine, Celebrex/Celexa, Zyprexa/Zyrtec. Always use BOTH generic and brand names, read labels twice, and use barcode scanning when available. One wrong letter can be fatal.

3

Assess Before AND After Giving Meds

Check vitals before cardiac meds, pain levels before analgesics, and blood glucose before insulin. Always reassess within 30 minutes to evaluate effectiveness and watch for adverse reactions.

4

Watch for Drug Interactions

Common dangerous combinations: warfarin + aspirin (bleeding), ACE inhibitors + potassium (hyperkalemia), digoxin + diuretics (toxicity). Always check drug interactions before administering new medications.

5

Educate Your Patients

Teach patients medication names, purposes, major side effects, and what to report. Informed patients catch errors and improve compliance. Always encourage questions - an educated patient is a safer patient.

⚡ Remember: When in doubt, don't give it out! It's always safer to double-check than regret later.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This drug guide is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for clinical use. Always consult current prescribing information, healthcare providers, and institutional protocols before administering any medication. Do not use this information for patient care decisions.