Salbutamol
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Salbutamol
Systematic (IUPAC) name
4-[2-(tert-butylamino)-1-hydroxyethyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)phenol
Identifiers
CAS number	18559-94-9
ATC code	R03AC02 R03CC02
PubChem	2083
DrugBank	APRD00553
Chemical data
Formula	C13H21NO3
Mol. mass	239.311
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	Hepatic
Half life	1.6 hours
Excretion	Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	A(AU) C(US)
Legal status	Pharmacist Only (S3)(AU) ?(CA) POM(UK) ℞-only(US)
Routes	Oral, inhalational, IV

Salbutamol (INN) or albuterol (USAN) is a short-acting β₂-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief of bronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Salbutamol sulfate is usually given by the inhaled route for direct effect on bronchial smooth muscle. This is usually achieved through a metered dose inhaler (MDI), nebuliser or other proprietary delivery devices (e.g. Rotahaler or Autohaler). In these forms of delivery, the maximal effect of Salbutamol can take place within five to twenty minutes of dosing, though some relief is immediately seen. Salbutamol can also be given orally as an inhalant or intravenously. However, some asthmatics do not have the required DNA base sequence in a specific gene and may not respond to these medications (please expand this - is the effect of the drug purely based on genetic variability?!).

Salbutamol became available in the United Kingdom in 1969 and in the United States in 1980 under the trade name Ventolin.

Clinical use

Salbutamol is specifically indicated in the following conditions:

• Acute asthma
• Symptom relief during maintenance therapy of asthma and other conditions with reversible airways obstruction (including COPD)
• Protection against exercise-induced asthma
• Hypokalaemia, especially in patients with renal failure
• Can be aerosolized with a nebulizer for patients with cystic fibrosis, along with ipratropium bromide and pulmozyme.

As a β₂-agonist, salbutamol also finds use in obstetrics. Intravenous salbutamol can be used as a tocolytic to relax the uterine smooth muscle to delay premature labour. Whilst preferred over agents such as atosiban and ritodrine, its role has largely been replaced by the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine which is more effective, better tolerated and orally administered.^[1]

Side Effects / Health Consequences

• Tachycardia
• Tremors
• Shakiness, nervousness
• Hyperkinesis
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Reactive bronchospasm

Ban of CFC-containing albuterol inhalers

Ventolin inhaler

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration in April of 2005 mandated that all (including albuterol) inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) will be prohibited in the United States as of 12/31/2008. CFC inhalers had previously been given "essential use" status, exempting it from a CFC-production ban, however in accordance with the Montreal Protocol they will be phased out; in many other countries patients have been transitioned to non-CFC based inhalers using hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to produce adequate supplies of alternative (HFA) inhalers by 2009.^{citation needed}

One drawback of this transition to HFA inhalers is that due to patent restrictions all of the HFA albuterol inhalers are "brand-name" (ProAir, Proventil, and Ventolin). They cost approximately $20 more per inhaler than existing generic CFC albuterol inhalers. Generic HFA albuterol inhalers are not expected on the market until 2017 due to existing patents, although some pharmaceutical companies will offer discounts for those who cannot afford the HFA inhalers.^{citation needed}

Benefits of transitioning to HFA inhalers include (1) increased drug deposition in the distal airways, (2) more consistent drug delivery from nearly empty canisters, and (3) more consistent drug delivery at a greater range of canister temperatures. It should be noted that the spray force of HFA inhalers is less than that of CFC inhalers, which may mislead some patients to believe that they may not be receiving enough albuterol when in fact they are seeing the benefits as outlined above.^{citation needed}

Diet and bodybuilding use

Salbutamol is taken by some as an alternative to Clenbuterol for purposes of fat burning.^[2]

References

Additional notes

1. Moore NG, Pegg GG, Sillence MN (September 1994). "Anabolic effects of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol are dependent on route of administration". Am. J. Physiol. 267 (3 Pt 1): E475–84. PMID 7943228. 
2. Schiffelers SL, Saris WH, Boomsma F, van Baak MA (May 2001). "beta(1)- and beta(2)-Adrenoceptor-mediated thermogenesis and lipid utilization in obese and lean men". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86 (5): 2191–9. PMID 11344226. 
3. van Baak MA, Mayer LH, Kempinski RE, Hartgens F (July 2000). "Effect of salbutamol on muscle strength and endurance performance in nonasthmatic men". Med Sci Sports Exerc 32 (7): 1300–6. PMID 10912897. 
4. Caruso JF, Hamill JL, De Garmo N (February 2005). "Oral albuterol dosing during the latter stages of a resistance exercise program". J Strength Cond Res 19 (1): 102–7. doi:10.1519/R-14793.1. PMID 15705021. 
5. Caruso JF, Signorile JF, Perry AC, et al (November 1995). "The effects of albuterol and isokinetic exercise on the quadriceps muscle group". Med Sci Sports Exerc 27 (11): 1471–6. PMID 8587482. 
6. Martineau L, Horan MA, Rothwell NJ, Little RA (November 1992). "Salbutamol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, increases skeletal muscle strength in young men". Clin. Sci. 83 (5): 615–21. PMID 1335400. S
7. Desaphy JF, Pierno S, De Luca A, Didonna P, Camerino DC (March 2003). "Different ability of clenbuterol and salbutamol to block sodium channels predicts their therapeutic use in muscle excitability disorders". Mol. Pharmacol. 63 (3): 659–70. PMID 12606775. 
8. Maki KC, Skorodin MS, Jessen JH, Laghi F (June 1996). "Effects of oral albuterol on serum lipids and carbohydrate metabolism in healthy men". Metab. Clin. Exp. 45 (6): 712–7. PMID 8637445. 

External links

• Albuterol
• Volmax Drug Information