What can an overdose of albuterol do to you?

Question

I think I may be taking too much albuterol...a lot too much. And it makes me really shaky. I feel like I'm so shaky I almost can't walk and have trouble thinking. I've read that overdoses can cause seizures and such. Is this type of thing what I am experiencing? I'm not so sure on what the dosage should be, but I seem to have breathing troubles a lot. I think half of the problems could be caused by the albuterol. Part of the problem is that my breath seems to come out as if I'm crying or trembling and my heart is racing.

I already have singulair and advair. Albuterol is my emergency inhaler, and truthfully, I take it for the buzz. I like the way it makes me feel in my head. Does this make me a druggie?

I've actually taken it 35 times in one day before.

Answer 1

the normal dose for an albuterol inhaler is: 2 puffs by mouth every 4 to 6 hours. you shouldn't use it more than 6 times a day. if you are, you can o.d. on albuterol, and also, you should be on something else to help control your breathing, because albuterol isn't really supposed to be a maintenance drug, it's more of an emergency drug.

ask your doctor about something like Advair or Singulair. those drugs help keep you from having asthma attacks, and you wouldn't need to use your albuterol as much.

Answer 2

Unlike what Run4Cover stated in his answer, YES you can OD on albuterol. Too much does cause irregular heart rhythms, dizziness and possibly seizures. A very few people also have a type of "allergy" to regular albuterol. There is a new form of albuterol called Xopenex that has fewer side effects. But you do need to see an allergist or pulmonary doctor to get this under control, and get the right medications for you.

Answer 3

Can You Overdose On Albuterol

Answer 4

Albuterol affects your heart rate. Overdosing on albuterol could lead to cardiac arrest. The safe dose is 2 puffs no more than four times a day.
If you use albuterol and it doesn't help your breathing, see your doctor immediately.

Answer 5

I get shakey from it too.

I need it but I hate the way I feel when I use it.

It's better to use maintenance drugs like Singulair. You take one tablet at night before you go to bed, and you really don't have breathing difficulties anymore. Only in extreme situations.

Albuterol is similar to adrenaline. It's not good to take too much. Not at all.

So stop doing it.

Go to an allergist. Not a regular doctor, but an allergy doctor, who specializes in asthma.

There are tons of things you can do to prevent getting symptoms at all.

You can make simply lifestyle changes in your home that will really make a big difference in the quality of your life - AND it will mean less albuterol.

Answer 6

First off are you taking inhalers or do you use a nebulizer machine? If you are on an inhaler then 2 puffs every 6 hours is the usual dose in a severe attack you can take 2 puffs every 4 hours., if no improvement go to nearest ER. If using a nebulizer machine it is one neb every 4 hours but in a severe attack you can take one neb every 15 mins for 1 hour if no improvement you need to be in hospital. Albuterol will make you shaky it is a side effect of the medicine especially if you are having to use the inhaler or nebulizer more often. Once you increase the use of your inhalers, or nebulizers and breathing is not improving you need to go to the nearest ER.

Answer 7

It's difficult to overdose and the shakes are a common side effect of the albuterol. Try eating before you use it and that should help with the shakes and difficulty thinking.

Answer 8

I would compare your dosage to what is standard by the FDA.

A typical dose prescription for a standard, chronic patient is 2.5mg Albuterol sulfate in 3cc normal saline taken by aerosol four times daily. (albuterol unit dose QID via SVN).

Answer 9

For overdose,

read near the end of this link. ( does even more that whats listed)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682145.html


For other drugs

http://www.drugs.com/Albuterol/index.html

What other drugs will affect albuterol?
• Before taking albuterol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
· a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), propranolol (Inderal), acebutolol (Sectral), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), or pindolol (Visken);
· a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), or protriptyline (Vivactil);
· a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
· another oral or inhaled bronchodilator; or
· caffeine, diet pills, or decongestants.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note the words 2 lines above ~~ another oral or inhaled bronchodilator

One friend compalined that his systolic pressure was about 220
A month later he had a stroke

Another friend complained about high blood pressure, now has a ruptured aorta


They gave me 5 neb treatments of albuterol, my systolic pressure was 195, I was so shakey I couldn't hold the nebulizer

Answer 10

making your heart race is just what too much albuterol will do. it should be used as a rescue(fast acting) inhaler. NOT for long term use . see a dr. may need advent or advair or even spiriva for long term care , good luck