Asthalin Tablets (albuterol, also known as salbutamol) contain a bronchodilator to help patients prevent and manage mild to moderate breathing difficulties, such as experienced with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Though a much less common use, some patients take Asthalin Tablets to help lower blood potassium.

The tablets can be used in patients under age 12, but be aware that these young patients will require modified dosing.

Tablet Uses

Most patients with chronic breathing difficulties are familiar with albuterol inhalers, as they're the most widely-used medication in the world for easing breathing. Fewer patients are familiar with tablets; though similar in many respects, they do have some important differences as well:

• Inhalers are fast-acting, working in seconds or moments; tablets can take up to 30 minutes before effects are felt, and up to 2 hours for maximum benefit.
• Inhalers wear off quickly; tablets last considerably longer, 6 or 8 hours.
• Inhalers deliver the medication directly to the lungs; tablets, delivered systemically, are somewhat less potent with respect to the lungs.
• Inhalers are ideal as a rescue treatment; tablets are better for prevention.

Patients with mild conditions may rarely, if ever, need to use a rescue inhaler if taking tablets. Patients with moderate to severe breathing difficulties will want to keep a rescue inhaler on-hand in case it's needed, however. Individuals with severe asthma will most likely still regularly use the rescue inhaler, though it may be less often than without tablets.

Asthalin Tablets are best taken to:

• Manage chronic, mild symptoms
• Prevent an anticipated attack (taken prior to exposure to known triggers)
• Help with a currently happening attack

Taken prior to an anticipated attack---before exercise or before visiting a friend with triggering pets, for example---Asthalin Tablets can prevent an attack from starting or minimize the attack, reducing rescue inhaler use.

Helping with a current attack is variable, and patients must also consider the total amount of albuterol being taken. In most cases it's not too much of a concern; an attack can be fully resolved within a few hours and there's little concern for albuterol overdose even if both tablets and rescue inhalers are used. However, for very serious attacks---when patients are unable or unwilling to seek medical attention, despite severe symptoms---it can quickly become concerning as rescue inhaler use often goes up dramatically.

Unfortunately the symptoms of overdose largely differ only in degree to regular side effects as well as the body's own stress from impaired breathing:

• Nervousness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Tremor/shaking
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Rapid or erratic heartbeat
• Pain in throat
• Pain in the arms or shoulders

Those reluctant to seek medical attention even for severe attacks should definitely do so if experiencing any of the above severely or multiple of the above. Overdosing can prove fatal. Those unable to seek medical attention are in more of a bind; one doesn't want to overdose, but one also needs to breathe. Utilizing any other, non-albuterol methods to improve breathing is advisable, and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible.

Dosage & Administration

Asthalin tablets are sometimes taken regularly, but more often taken as-needed. Food is optional with each dose, but may ease nausea if experienced.

To help with a current attack:

• Take a tablet at the earliest symptoms.
• Additional tablets may be taken, if needed, every 6 hours.

To prevent an attack:

• Take a tablet about 2 hours prior to exposure to triggers (including exercise).
• Additional tablets may be taken every 6 hours as needed.

To alleviate mild chronic symptoms:

• Take a tablet three or four times per day at evenly-spaced intervals.

Dosage amount is variable. Asthalin Tablets are available in 2, 4, or 8 mg dosage strengths. 2 mg doses are typically reserved for children, though individuals with very mild breathing ailments may also use them. 4 mg doses are the standard adult dose, used by most patients. 8 mg doses are used by patients with relatively severe breathing difficulties or during severe attacks. Note that multiple tablets can be taken to make one larger does; two 2-mg tablets is the same as taking one 4 mg tablet.

Maximum dosing guidelines for adults are:

• Start with 4 mg tablets.
• If 4 mg doses do not fully alleviate symptoms, 8 mg doses may produce better results.
• Do not exceed 32 mg (8 mg taken four times) per 24 hours.
• Do not take more than 8 mg in a single dose.

And maximum dosing guidelines for children under age 12:

• Start with 2 mg tablets.
• If 2 mg tablets fail to produce good results, dosage may be increased to 4 or 6 mg.
• Do not administer more than 24 mg (6 mg taken four times) per day.
• Do not administer more than 6 mg in a single dose.

Most patients will not need the maximum treatment, and most patients don't need to take Asthalin Tablets every day over the long-term. As long as the above maximum use guidelines are not exceeded, Asthalin Tablets can be used in whatever manner works best for an individual.