Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Maxair
  2. Maxair Autohaler

Descriptions


Pirbuterol is used alone or together with other medicines, to prevent bronchospasm in patients 12 years of age and older with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases.

Pirbuterol belongs to the family of medicines known as adrenergic bronchodilators. Adrenergic bronchodilators are medicines that are breathed in through the mouth to open up the bronchial tubes (air passages) in the lungs. They relieve cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing by increasing the flow of air through the bronchial tubes.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Use of pirbuterol in children younger than 12 years of age is not recommended.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of pirbuterol in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Methacholine
  • Sotalol

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Diabetes or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease or
  • Heart rhythm problems (e.g., arrhythmia) or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure) or
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or
  • Seizures—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use

Inhaled pirbuterol is used with a special inhaler that comes with patient instructions. Read the directions carefully before using this medicine. If you do not understand the directions or you are not sure how to use the inhaler, ask your doctor to show you what to do. Also, ask your doctor to check regularly how you use the inhaler to make sure you are using it properly.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. Also, do not stop taking this medicine without telling your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Do not stop using this medicine or other asthma medicines that your doctor has prescribed for you unless you have discussed this with your doctor.

When you use the inhaler for the first time, or if you have not used it for more than 48 hours, the inhaler may not give the right amount of medicine with the first puff. Therefore, before using the inhaler, prime it by spraying the medicine two times into the air away from the face, and shaking it well before each spray.

Do not use the inhaler for this medicine with any other medicine.

Dosing

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

  • For inhalation dosage form (aerosol):
    • For prevention of bronchospasm:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—Two puffs every 4 to 6 hours as needed, up to a total of 12 puffs per day. Each puff contains 200 micrograms (mcg) of pirbuterol.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use is not recommended.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the canister at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not freeze. Do not keep this medicine inside a car where it could be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Do not poke holes in the canister or throw it into a fire, even if the canister is empty.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress or your child's progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to check for any unwanted effects caused by the medicine.

This medicine may cause paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you are having a cough, difficulty with breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing.

Check with your doctor at once if difficulty with breathing continues after using a dose of this medicine or if your condition gets worse.

You may also be taking an anti-inflammatory medicine (e.g., corticosteroids) for asthma along with this medicine. Do not stop taking the anti-inflammatory medicine even if your asthma seems better, unless you are told to do so by your doctor.

Hypokalemia may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have more than one of the following symptoms: convulsions; decreased urine; dry mouth; increased thirst; irregular heartbeat; loss of appetite; mood changes; muscle pain or cramps; nausea or vomiting; numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips; shortness of breath; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not change your dose or stop using this medicine without asking your doctor first.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems, and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  2. trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

Less common

  1. Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

Rare

  1. Blurred vision
  2. bruising
  3. chest pain
  4. confusion
  5. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
  6. fainting
  7. feeling of warmth
  8. numbness in the arms or legs
  9. redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
  10. sweating
  11. swelling
  12. unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

  1. Arm, back, or jaw pain
  2. chest tightness or heaviness
  3. confusion
  4. convulsions
  5. decreased urine
  6. dry mouth
  7. general feeling of discomfort or illness
  8. headache
  9. increased thirst
  10. loss of appetite
  11. mood changes
  12. muscle pain or cramps
  13. nausea or vomiting
  14. nervousness
  15. numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  16. pounding in the ears
  17. shortness of breath
  18. sleeplessness
  19. slow or fast heartbeat
  20. trouble sleeping
  21. unable to sleep

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

  1. Cough
  2. dizziness

Rare

  1. Abdominal or stomach cramps
  2. anxiety
  3. bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  4. change in taste
  5. depression
  6. hair loss
  7. increase in body movements
  8. itching skin
  9. redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
  10. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  11. thinning of the hair
  12. weakness
  13. weight gain
  14. weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pirbuterol-inhalation-route/description/drg-20073563