Salbutamol at a glance
Medicine class
Short-acting selective beta-2 agonist bronchodilator, often called a reliever.
Main role
Relieves wheeze, chest tightness and breathlessness caused by reversible airway narrowing.
Available forms
Pressurised and dry-powder inhalers, nebuliser solutions and hospital injectable preparations.
What is Salbutamol used for?
Licensed uses vary by formulation.
Inhalers: relief of asthma and other reversible airway obstruction, including wheeze and breathlessness.
Inhalers: prevention of symptoms triggered by exercise or allergen exposure.
Nebuliser solutions: acute severe asthma and chronic bronchospasm not responding adequately to conventional therapy.
Injection or intravenous infusion: hospital treatment of severe bronchospasm.
Intravenous infusion: specialist suppression of premature labour in appropriately selected patients without medical or obstetric contraindications.
How does Salbutamol work?
Salbutamol activates beta-2 receptors and relaxes the muscle surrounding the airways, allowing them to open rapidly. Effects outside the lungs help explain tremor, a faster heartbeat, increased blood glucose and reduced potassium, particularly with greater systemic exposure.
Salbutamol preparations and strengths
Inhaled preparation
Route: Inhaled
Strengths: 100 micrograms, 100 micrograms/dose, 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 500 micrograms
How to take Salbutamol
Use only by the route stated for the product and follow its supplied instructions.
Inhaler technique differs between pressurised, breath-actuated and dry-powder devices. Have your technique checked regularly.
A spacer may be prescribed with a compatible pressurised inhaler when coordination is difficult.
Keep the mouthpiece clean, covered and free of loose objects. Follow product-specific priming, cleaning and storage instructions.
Nebuliser solution must be inhaled through suitable equipment under clinical direction; do not swallow or inject it.
Injectable and infusion products are administered by healthcare professionals in monitored settings.
Food does not affect use of a salbutamol inhaler.
Salbutamol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Fine shaking or tremor
- Headache
- A temporarily faster or more noticeable heartbeat
- Restlessness or dizziness
- Muscle cramps
- With some dry-powder products: altered taste, nausea, sweating, or mouth and throat irritation
Get urgent medical advice
- New or worsening breathlessness or chest pain
- A fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle
- Marked dizziness, faintness or collapse
- Muscle weakness, pain or cramps with palpitations, which may indicate low potassium
- Immediate worsening of wheeze after inhalation
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and difficulty breathing
Salbutamol in pregnancy
Inhaled salbutamol can be used during pregnancy, and good asthma control is important for mother and baby. Do not stop prescribed asthma treatment without advice. Nebulised or systemic use requires individual specialist assessment; intravenous use for premature labour is a separate, closely monitored indication with important contraindications.
Salbutamol while breastfeeding
Salbutamol inhalers can usually be continued while breastfeeding. Transfer into milk is expected to be low. Systemic or intravenous use requires a separate benefit–risk assessment.
Salbutamol interactions
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all medicines, inhalers and supplements. Important interactions include:
Non-selective beta blockers, such as propranolol
Can oppose bronchodilation and provoke severe airway narrowing; the combination is generally avoided unless carefully assessed.
Diuretics
May increase the risk of low potassium and associated heart-rhythm problems.
Common questions about Salbutamol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is salbutamol sulfate the same medicine as salbutamol?
Salbutamol sulfate is the salt used in these products; labels commonly state the amount equivalent to active salbutamol.
Are Ventolin, Salamol and Salbulin all salbutamol medicines?
Yes. Their devices, excipients and licensed age ranges may differ.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.