SABAs are rescue medications used as needed to treat acute symptoms.
What They Are
SABAs are considered the frontline defense for acuteasthma symptoms.
Terbutaline is still used, but the brand name is no longer available.
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By definition, agonists are drugs that bind to a cell receptor to trigger a specific reaction.
The receptor in this case is the beta2-adrenergic receptor, which relaxes smooth muscles.
It also alleviatesbronchospasmsthat cause chest tightness and coughing during an asthma attack.
If you are allergic to albuterol, you should not use levalbuterol (or vice versa).
However, uncontrolled asthma puts both a developing fetus and the pregnant person at risk.
Based on the statistical risk, the drugs are unlikely to pose any harm.
How to Take and Store
SABAs should never be used in excess of the recommended dose.
Overuse can lead to premature drug tolerance and treatment failure.
Of the three inhaled formulations, MDIs need to be primed before use if not recently used.
This involves shaking and spraying the inhaler away from your face to reset the aerosol valve.
(DPIs and nebulizers can be used as needed.)
Do not use a SABA after its expiration date.
Side Effects
The side effects of the various SABA formulations are largely the same.
SABA-induced paradoxical bronchospasm should always be considered a medical emergency.
Allergies to SABAs are rare but can occur.
These are signs of a potentially life-threatening, whole-body allergy known asanaphylaxis.
Because of their effect on heart rhythms, never use more of an SABA than prescribed.
On rare occasions overuse of albuterol or levalbuterol has causedmyocardial infarction(heart attack) or stroke.
Beta2-agonists are known to interact with certain classes of drugs.
In others, it may decrease the blood concentration of a drug (reducing its effectiveness).
Both of these are signs that your condition is not being well controlled.
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