How often can you use an albuterol inhaler?

An albuterol inhaler treats or prevents bronchospasm (tightening and swelling of the muscles around your airways). Asthma often causes bronchospasm, but other respiratory conditions can also cause it.

Albuterol is a generic drug that comes in multiple forms, such as:

• oral tablets
• oral syrup
• aerosol that you inhale through an inhaler
• powder that you inhale through an inhaler
• liquid solution that you inhale through a nebulizer device

Albuterol inhalers also come in brand-name forms, such as Ventolin HFA. Albuterol is a prescription drug, so you will need a prescription from a doctor to get it. It is not available over the counter (OTC).

Albuterol inhaler dosage

How often you should use your albuterol inhaler may vary based on your condition. It’s also helpful to know that there are two different types of albuterol inhalers: an aerosol metered-dose inhaler and a powder metered-dose inhaler. Both forms of inhaler deliver 90 micrograms (mcg) of albuterol for every 108 mcg of albuterol sulfate inhaled. (Albuterol is the active ingredient in albuterol sulfate).

Regardless of which type of albuterol inhaler you use, the dosage of albuterol for adults is typically two puffs from an albuterol inhaler every 4 to 6 hours. This dosage of albuterol is to treat airway tightness caused by asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Doctors typically prescribe two puffs from an albuterol inhaler for adults to help prevent airway tightness that exercise could cause. They need to take the medication 15 to 30 minutes before exercising.

Sometimes, doctors prescribe albuterol to help manage airway tightness in people with bronchitis. Albuterol works by relaxing airway passages in the lungs, which can make it easier to breathe. However, studies suggest that albuterol is not that effective when used for this purpose.

For children ages 4 to 17 years, the dosage of albuterol is the same as for adults — two puffs from an albuterol inhaler every 4 to 6 hours. Some people may only need one puff every 4 hours. The safety and effectiveness of albuterol are not tested in children under the age of 4 years.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for how often you should use your inhaler and how many puffs you should take. You should not take more puffs or use your inhaler more than your doctor prescribes.

Can you use an albuterol inhaler every 2 hours?

If you feel like you need to use your inhaler more than every 4 to 6 hours, contact your doctor right away.

In some cases your doctor may instruct using albuterol more frequently than every 4 to 6 hours. But this would typically be in response to an asthma attack.

In such instances, they may recommend using up to three puffs of albuterol, spaced out by 20 minutes, within the first hour of an asthma attack. After each puff, you should reassess your asthma symptoms. If you feel relief in your symptoms, you can then use albuterol every 3 to 4 hours for the next day or two. It’s important to contact your doctor if you need to use albuterol in response to an asthma attack. They will also provide instructions on what to do next.

How long do you have to wait between puffs of albuterol inhaler?

The length of time you need to wait after each puff of an albuterol inhaler will vary depending on your specific condition. But typically, if your doctor has instructed you to take multiple puffs, you should wait 1 minute between puffs.

What happens if you take too much albuterol?

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions for how much albuterol you take. You should not take more puffs or use your inhaler more than you’ve been prescribed.

If you take too much albuterol, it could lead to dangerous levels of the drug in your body and cause more side effects. You may have the following symptoms after taking too much albuterol:

• fast heart rate
• irregular heart rate
• chest pain
• high or low blood pressure
• jitteriness
• headache
• dry mouth
• nausea
• dizziness

If you think you’ve taken too much albuterol, call your doctor or local poison control center right away or go to the nearest emergency room.

Summary

How often you use the albuterol inhaler may vary based on your condition. 

The dosage to treat airway tightness is typically two puffs every 4 to 6 hours. The dosage to prevent airway tightness caused by exercise is typically two puffs that you’ll take 15 to 30 minutes before starting exercise.

If a healthcare professional prescribes multiple puffs, you should wait 1 minute between puffs.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for how often you should use your inhaler and how many puffs you should take. Contact your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much albuterol.